THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 99 



Paraguay Tea, of South America, is of the same 

 genus as this, (the I. Paraguayensis,) but a.very dif- 

 ferent species. Our Yopon is the article from which 

 the famous Black Drink of the Southern Indians was 

 made. "At a certain time of the year they come 

 down in droves from a distance of some hundred 

 miles to the coast for the leaves of this tree. They 

 make a fire on the ground, and putting a great kettle 

 of water on it, they throw in a large quantity of 

 these leaves, and setting themselves around the fire, 

 from a bowl that holds about a pint they begin 

 drinking large draughts, which in a short time occa- 

 sions them to vomit freely and easily. Thus they 

 continue drinking and vomiting for the space of two 

 or three days, until they have sufficiently cleansed 

 themselves ; and then every one taking a bundle of 

 the tree, they all retire to their habitations." 



4. (I. decidua, Walt.) — This and the next three 

 have deciduous leaves, and have not been honored in 

 this State, as far as I know, with popular names. 

 This is common along shaded ravines and branches 

 throughout the Middle District, and is from 6 to 15 

 feet high. The leaves are 1 to 2 inches long, with 

 rounded teeth on the edges, narrow and tapering 

 down into a short stem, somewhat hairy on the veins 

 of the underside, otherwise smooth. Berries red, in 

 clusters, each containing 4 to 6 bony seeds, that are 

 ribbed on the back. 



5. (I. ambigua, Chapm.) — A shrub or small tree 

 confined to our mountain region in this State, though 



