A native of the West India Islands, particularly of Ja- 
maica, St Domingo and Barbadoes. It is likewise found at 
Carthagena ; and Michaux and Pursh mention a variety of 
it which is found upon the sea-shore of Georgia and Florida. 
Of this, however, Mr Elliott takes no notice in his valuable 
Fhra of Georgia and South Carolhia. The North Ameri- 
can plant, according to Michaux, differs from the West In- 
dian one, simply in the leaves not being so much acuminated ; 
but Browne speaks of another variety, which, indeed, he is in- 
clined to think a distinct species, growing to a great height 
among the trees in the woods of Jamaica, between St Thomas's 
and Manganeel, and again throwing down some of its long 
slender twigs to the ground. Nevertheless, its leaves are si- 
milar to those of the more common kind. 
The numerous berries, of a delicate white coloiu* (which do 
not appear to be produced in our stoves), have given the com- 
mon English name to the plant, as well as that of the genus, 
(from y^fov, snow, and nonog^ fruit). 
This shrub has been cultivated in our gardens since 1729, 
about which time it appears to have been introduced by Dr 
Sherard. In its native climate, the root, which has a bitter 
acrid taste, similar to that of the Seneka snake-root, is em- 
ployed medicinally, as a strong resolutive and attenuant. 
Fig. 1. Flower. Fig. 2. Corolla cut open, to shew the stamen. Fig. 3. 
The Pistil. Fig. 4. Section of the Germen. — All more or less magnified. 
