BOTANY. 
313 
it is difficult to imagine why, unless when hogs were first turned 
into the Island, three centuries ago, there was more of it than now 
exists, and they fed upon it), is a slender trailing little thing bearing 
pink blossoms ; it inhabits the low, rocky, barren land near the sea- 
coast at alt. '6, especially in the neighbourhood of Ladder Hill, 
Munden’s, Rupert’s, &c., on the northern coast. It dies away 
during the hot weather in February and March, and shoots again in 
the spring. — Hab. Tropics generally. 
Bougainvillea, Comm. 
568. B. speetabilis, Willd. — Recently introduced from Madeira ; 
one plant at the Hermitage only. — Hab. Brazil. 
Mirabilis, Linn. 
569. M. jalapa, Linn. — Five varieties of this plant, commonly 
called Four o’Clock, grow in the Island — viz., the White, the Red, 
the Yellow, the Red and White, and the Red and Yellow-flowered. 
It may be said to grow almost wild and is common at all altitudes 
from a few feet to one or two thousand above the sea. It flourishes 
in the poorest soils, attains to a shrub four feet in height, and 
flowers abundantly. The roots grow very large, but are not made 
use of. Although they possess some medicinal quality they do not, 
as has been supposed in the Island, yield the medicine called jalap. 
Bot. Mag. 371.— Hab. West Indies. 
85. BASELLACEiE. 
Basella, Linn. 
570. B. rubra, Linn. — Called Poisarg; commonly grown in gar- 
dens, and used as a substitute for spinach. C. to H. L. Seeds freely. 
— Hab. Trop. Asia. 
Boussingaultia, H. B. K. 
571. B. baselloides, H. B. K. — The Bridle-wreath Vine has very 
recently been introduced from Brazil, but already grows abundantly 
in gardens both on the high and low lands. This plant appears to 
be one of the few which grow in Georgetown, at the Island of 
Ascension. It is there much valued as a verandah climber. It 
blossoms at St. Helena, but is propagated from the root. Bot. 
Mag. 3620. — Hab. S. America, Quitinian Andes. 
