172 GEOFFROYA INERMIS. 
small lenticular seeds of a yellow colour. Figs consist almost en- 
tirely of mucilage and sugar. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Figs are considered to be 
very nutritious and wholesome, but when eaten too freely they often 
occasion flatulence and diarrhoea. Medicinally they are esteemed 
useful as a demulcent and pectoral, and as such they are given in de- 
coction in pulmonary and other inflammatory complaints. The decoc- 
tion also forms an useful gargle in cynanche tonsillaris, after 
suppuration has taken place. They are also usefully combined with 
many aperient medicines to assist their operation. Externally they 
have been applied in the form of cataplasm, to promote the sup- 
puration of phlegmonous tumours of the gums, buboes, &c. 
There is no officinal preparation of figs, but they enter into the 
composition of the compound decoction of barley of the London and 
Dublin Pharmacopeias, and also into the compound electuary of 
senna of the Edinburgh. 
Ofl". The preserved fruit. 
GEOFFROYA INERMIS. 
The Cabbage Tree.* 
Class Diadelphia. — Order Decandria. 
JVa«. Ord. PAPiLiONACEiE, Linn. Leguminos^, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted. Drupe ovate. Nucleus 
compressed. 
Spec. Char. Leaflets lanceolate. 
This tree is a native of Jamaica, growing in the low savannahs, 
where it is distinguished by the name of cabbage-bark tree, or 
worm-bark tree. The trivial name, Inermis, was given to this 
species of Geofi^roya by Dr. Wright, of Jamaica, from its being 
destitute of thorns, in contradistinction to the Geoffroya Spinosa, 
* Fig. a, b. and c. the petals, d. The caljx. e. The pistillum. /. The stamens. 
