Account of the Ipomoea Tuberosa. 185 



acuminate, quite entire, smooth : panicles generally 2-flow- 

 ered : corolla 2 inches long : seeds large, hairy. 



I. Tuberosa. Willd. Sp. PL v.l.p. 881. Ipomaea Tuberosa. 

 J acq. Obs. l.p. 39- I. heptadactyla, &c. Brown Jam. n. 6. 

 p. 155. Convolvulus major heptaphyllus, flore sulphureo 

 odorato. Sloan. Hist. Jam. 1. p. 152. f. 96./. 2. 



The best method of managing it is, to give the root 

 plenty of room, and suffer the branches to ramble at plea- 

 sure upon a trellis at the top of the stove : when there is a 

 border taken off from the bark-bed, this is attended with no 

 difficulty, but those who have not this convenience, may 

 plant it in a large pot, and train the branches upon sticks, 

 or a trellis, in a glass frame, or light green-house : for though 

 the root will live through winter in the open ground, if co- 

 vered with a little long litter in severe frost, the plant re- 

 quires more heat in summer to make it flower, than our 

 climate affords naturally. 



If, upon a more accurate investigation, the root is found to 

 have the same cathartic properties as the officinal Jalap, it 

 may be, no doubt, cultivated for use here, by training the 

 branches against a south wall, or building, and the efficacy 

 of the root would also in all probability be increased rather 

 than diminished, by its not producing flowers or seeds ; but 

 it may possibly flower here, in time, in the open ground, 

 especially if suffered to extend itself against the south side 

 of a house. 



This species was found growing wild by Sir Hans Sloane, 

 among the trees by the banks of the Rio Cobre, in Jamaica, 

 and very abundantly by Professor Jacquin, on the rocky 

 mountains above the town of Cape Francais, in St. Domingo. 



