AMPELI UE/E. 
181 
lias been proposed to obviate these defects by root-grafting on 
the native species — Name, from Vita life, in allusion to the 
enlivening effects produced by the liquors prepared from the 
juice of the fruit. 
1. Vitis Caribaea. Water -withe. 
Leaves cordate acuminate angulated dentate slightly 
wooly above ferrugineo-lanuginose beneath. 
Vitis fructu minore rubro acerbo, Sloane, II. 104. t. 210. f. 
4* — -Vitis sylvestris, uvis minoribus nigris, Browne, 178. — V. 
Indica, Swartz, Obs. 95. — V. Caribaea, De Cancl. Prod. I. 634. 
HAB. Common in thickets, especially where the soil is of a 
marly nature. 
FL. May. 
Stem woody: branches, angular, wooly, climbing. Leaves 
alternate, petiolate, cordate, roundish, acuminate, more or less 
angulated, 5-nerved at the base, with the reticulated divisions 
of the nerves terminating at the margin in prominent teeth, 
slightly lanuginose in white tufts above, and ferrugineo-lanu- 
ginose beneath : petiole angulated, wooly. Tendrils opposite 
to the leaves, compressed, wooly, bifid towards the extremity. 
Racemes a crowded thyrse : peduncle elongated, opposite to a 
leaf, thus occupying what would have been the situation of a 
tendril, (and hence the tendrils are described by some Botan- 
ists as racemiferous), dichotomously divided : branches subdi- 
vided : terminal subdivisions bearing 10 or more shortly pedi- 
celled small yellowish flowers. Calyx minutely 5-toothed. 
Petals 5, oblong, cohering at the apex. Stamens 5, inserted on 
the disk surrounding the base ovary. Ovary ovato-globose : 
style short : stigma obtuse. Berries round, purple, 4-seeded. 
This plant is commonly known in Jamaica by the name of 
the Water-icithe, from the circumstance, that, in the early part 
of the year, the stem and large branches yield, when divided, 
about a pint of a clear transparent fluid like water. It is 
tasteless, and, I believe, wholesome, and is of great service to 
travellei’s in the woods. By a wise and provident arrangement, 
this plant is found most plentifully in limestone districts, where 
the honeycomb rock prevails, and where few or no springs are 
to be found. The fruit is small, of the size of a currant, and 
has a rough acerb taste, recommending it for tarts. There is 
no doubt, but that it is susceptible of improvement by cultiva- 
tion, since there is a great difference in quality of the fruit of 
different vines. I have never, however, observed it in our 
gardens ; although the fruit, even in the wild state, ought to 
entitle it to a place. 
