The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 85 
receive it from Jamaica, and have therefore placed it in floves ; but the 
Plant will live and thrive in open ground. It grows to a foot and a half 
high. The Stalk is weak but tough; of a reddifh green toward the 
bale, and pale upwards. The Leaves are alfo of a pale green ; and 
when bruifed have an unpleafing fcent. The Flowers are fmall and 
white.. 
It is worth while to. raife this Plant in quantity to try its virtues. 
The Indians, who have taught us more and better medicines,, than we 
ever taught ourfelves, call it by a name that exprefles Fever Plant; cur 
people in the colonies have learnt its ufe from them, and extol it 
highly ; but I don’t know that it has ever been try’d in England. 
5. NEEDLE ERYNGO. 
Plate 50. Fig. 2. 
Character of the Species. Eryngium Aquaticum. 
The Leaves are lanc’d, ferrated, and terminate in a ftrong 
and flender Spine, like a needle. They retain their un- 
divided form to the top. 
Fig. 2. a b. 
This is a perennial, native of Virginia, and other parts of North 
America ; an upright, but not very beautiful Plant ; flowering in July. 
The Stalk rifes to near two feet in heighth, and is tough, firm, fmooth, 
and pale. The Leaves are of a greyilh green ; and have a thick 
flelhy fubftance. The Flowers are white. 
This is another of the Plants famous among the natives of America 
for its medicinal qualities. They call it by a name which fignifies Rat- 
tle-Snake Weed. There are leveral Plants which they fuppofe to have 
the virtue of curing t’nofe who are bitten by venemous ferpents, and this 
is one, and not the leaft refpe&ed among them. It is not ftrange their 
firft phyfick fhould be for the cure of bites of venemous creatures : their 
life in the woods made them always liable to thofe accidents. 
6. PALMATE D 
