( 38 ; ) 
the Empalement draw together, artd form a pyrami- 
dal Body ; but when the Ovary grows bigger, and 
becomes the Fruit, the Lobes of the Empalement ex- 
pand again, without changing their Shape ^ becaufe the 
Body of this Empalement encreafes its Diameter by 
the Effort which the Fruit makes within it. 
REMARKS. 
This Plant 'is very fenfible of the lead Geld : It 
loves warm and moift Places, It is found in the Ifland 
of and probably in the other Iflands of the 
Sonde and the Moluccas. When one touches its 
Leaves, they clofe immediately, and open again by 
little and little. The more they are warmed by the 
Sun, whilft^ their Soil is moift, the more impetuoufly 
they clofe againfl one another. The Portuguefe In- 
dians call it Dormldera^ becaufe, on being touched, 
it feems to lleep, by (hutting up its Leaves ; or elfe, 
becaufe fome among them think it procures Sleep by 
being put under the Ear, as I have feen pradlifed ; but 
I cannot aferibe this foporifick Quality to it, any more 
than I can recommend the hanging of Mijletoe of the 
Oak about the Neck for the Epilepfy. The Leaves 
of this Species of Oxydides have no Acidity in their 
Tafle, and give but a faint Tindure of Red to the blue 
Paper. 
I thought this Plant curious and rare enough to be 
communicated to the curious Engli/b Botanifts. I had 
the Pleafure to fee a little while ago, in Dr. Blair^ that 
the Flower of the was pentapetalous. 
Fff X 
The 
