Book VII. Zand of BARBADOS. 
A Decoétion of this Plant, drank warm, is looked upon to be very good 
to heal fore Throats. It grows to equal Perfection expofed to the Wind, or 
in the Shade ; and generally. blooms in Fume and Fuly. 
NIGHTSHADE; Lat. Solanum. 
"THE Roots of this Plant are many, ftringy, and white.’ The main 
Stalk, as well as the leffer fide-ones, -are of a deep-purple Colour, and 
herbaceous Texture, rifing often to near two Feet. The Leaves, which 
are about five Inches long, and about four broad, are irregularly ferrated 
into {hallow as well as deep Sections; the Extremity of each being fharp- 
pointed. The Flowers are of the tubular Kind, having their Borders or 
Extremities much expanded, and divided into five equal Parts, ending in 
corniculated Points. This Border or Extremity of the Flower is of a pale 
White. Its long tubular Shank is finely rayed, the Infide with purple-bluith 
Veins. From its Centre rife five two-inch-long Stamina, tipped with grey- 
bearded pices. The Piftil, being of equal Length, is tipped with the 
Rudiment of the Fruit, which, when ripe, is an echinated Pod of about 
an Inch long, inclofing a great many fmall blackifh Seeds. The whole 
Flower feems withered, and clofed up, in the Day-time ; at leaft, till about 
half an Hour paft Five in the Evening: Then it opens, and fully expands 
itfelf into a fine beautiful Flower. 
This is no fooner in Bloom than the Fly-bats come from their lurking 
Holes, and, flying from Flower to Flower, dart into thefe, feverally, their 
long twirling Tongue or Probofcis, with which they fuck out either the 
Honey-dew, or fome other Moifture from the Bottom of the Flower. 
. The Leaves are generally looked upon to be of great Efficacy to cure 
the Head-ach, by tying them to the Temples of the Perfon afflicted. 
RatTa-PEPER, or Rata Ocxro 3 alias Hoho. 
HIS Plant hath a great many white ftringy Roots. The main Stalk 
is green, herbaceous, and chairy, rifing to about fourteen Inches. 
‘This and its Side-branches are cloathed with green Leaves. Thefe are 
two Inches long, and near as broad ; having feveral high Veins on their 
under Sides, and their Edges irregularly ferrated. Among thefe rife feveral 
Footftalks or Pedicles, fuftaining a great many yellow Flowers fucceeded by 
‘long flender Pods. 
This Plant is much made ufe of by our Slaves in their Soups 
and Broths; who efteem it, and not unjuftly, a very wholfome boiled 
Sallad. 
Hhh Many- 
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