PLANTAIN.-MUSA PARA 

 DISIACA. 



In 'Botany, of the Petygamia Mon&cia Class. 

 Natural Order, Scitamencce. 



THIS tree received its generic name in me- 

 mory of Antonius Musa, the freedman and 

 physician of Augustus, who for curing his 

 imperial master of a dangerous disease, by 

 recommending to him the use of the cold 

 bath, was honoured by the senate with a 

 brazen statue, which was placed near that of 

 ^Esculapius. Antonius was a botanist, and 

 is supposed to be the author of the treatise, 

 De Herbd BotanicA. 



The plantain is a native of Guinea, from 

 whence it was brought to the Canary Islands, 

 and from thence carried to the West Indies ; 

 where it is cultivated with much care in 

 all the islands, the fruit being regarded among 

 the greatest blessings bestowed upon the in- 



