Book IV. land of BARBADOS. tig 
The JAcK-IN+A-Box; Lat. HERNANDIA. 
7 eee is of a very quick Growth ; and, when at Maturity, is very 
feldom fhort of Forty Feet high. rth 
Its main Branches are numerous arid ftrong: Thefe are fubdivided into 
{everal leffer ones, which are alternately cloathed with large Heart-like 
Leaves, being Ten Inches long; and Six broad. batt 
The Flowers iffue in Bunches from the Extremities of the Branches: 
Thefe ftand upon Two-inch long Footftalks, and are compofed of three 
whitifh feemingly capfular Leaves, furrounding Three leffer white Petals : 
Thefe alfo inclofe feveral fhort stamina, tipped with yellow Apices. 
The Socket of the Flower difcovers, near the Roots of the Stamina, 
feveral {mall yellowith farinaceous Grains. 
As the Piftil grows in Strength, it becomes the Rudiment of the Fruit; 
which, when ripe, is of a blackifh Colour, narrow at each End, and Three 
quarters of an Inch long. en 
From each Extremity, it grows in the Middle to a roundifh Body, of 
about Two Inches and an half in Circumference, deeply furrowed into 
feveral irregular Chanels. 
This blackifh Coat inclofes a Nut, whofe Kernel is very near as large 
as a {mall Nutmeg, and much refembles it in the Colour of its Veins. 
The Whole of this Fruit is furrounded with a thin husky brittle Cafe; 
or Covering, which never touches the Fruit, nor the Stalk, but where it 
furrounds it at the Bottom. This hollow Cap/ula is of a tawny yellow 
Colour, which is capable of containing, at leaft, a Gill of any Liquid, 
having an Aperture, at its Extremity, of about half an Inch Diameter : 
Thro’ this the Fruit may be eafily feen in the Cavity or Womb of 
this capfular Husk; which, when ripe, hath a very ftrong fragrant 
Smell. 
The Tree is never known to be without both Fruit and Flowers. 
The Wind, blowing into the Cavities of thefe Husks, makes a very fono- 
rous whiftling Noife. 
The inclofed Kernels are very oily. 
It grows chiefly in fhady Places. 
The End of the Fourru Boox. 
