1(JO THALAMIFLORJE. 



ever by Labat, that they are apt to burn and injure the texture of 

 the cloth. The seeds are round, smooth, and black, about the 

 size of a cherry, and were at one time imported into Eng- 

 land for buttons to waistcoats. In the present day, they are 

 tipt with gold, and strung as beads, or made into crosses, and 

 are very ornamental. They appear to be possessed of medi- 

 cinal properties. Bruised or pounded, and thrown into ponds 

 of water, they intoxicate and kill any fish that may be there. 

 Given to fowls, they are said to be a preventative against their 

 getting a disease, which is very fatal to them in the West-Indies, 

 called the fowl-yaws. A tincture, prepared by infusing the 

 bruised berries in spirits, is often used as an embrocation in 

 rheumatism. It has also been confidently stated, that the 

 tincture or extract is a medicine of singular and specific virtue 

 in Chlorosis. The timber of this tree is soft, and not durable. 



V. BLIGHIA. 



Calyx 5-partite. Petals 5. Stamens 8. Style 

 very short : stigmata 3. Carpels 3, connate, fleshy, 

 dehiscent : seed solitary, placed on a large fleshy 

 arillus. 



Named, in honour of Captain Bligh, who first carried the 

 Bread-fruit to the West- Indies. 



1. Blighia sapida. Akee. 



Koenig, Ann. Sot. II. 571. Akeesia, Tussac, Fl Aut, I. 66. 



HAB. Cultivated. 



FL. After the rains in May. 



This tree, a native of Africa, is now very common through- 

 out the Island. It comes into bearing about Christmas, when 

 it forms a beautiful object from the contrast of the red colour 

 of the fruit, with which it is loaded, with the bright green of 

 the leaves. The fruit is brought in great abundance to the 

 Kingston market. The arillus, which supports the seed, is the 

 part which is eaten. It is prepared by parboiling in water 

 with salt, and afterwards stewing or frying with butter, or by 

 simply boiling in soups. It is very wholesome, and from its 

 soft rich flavour well deserves the appellation of the vegetable 



VI. SCHMIDELTA. 



Flowers generally monoico-polygamous. Calyx 

 4-partite. Petals 4, bearded within at the middle of 

 the disk. Stamens 8. Ovary didymous. Carpels 

 2, subconnate, berried, 1 -seeded JDe Cand. 



