# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Book 1/Chapter 9

Chap. IX.
Of Herbs whose Flowers are compos'd of two or three Petala or Leaves.
What are chiefly remarkable in this Tribe, are some of the following Viscum's, which are a new kind of Parasitical Plants, differing from all those of Europe. Their way of growth, Flower, and Seed, are very particular, and extraordinary, and may be taken notice of in their Descriptions.
Arna overo ana Vareca di Padre Matteo, seems to be one of these Viscums described and figured by Zan. p. 29.
I. Stellaria aquatica. Park. Cat. p. 75.
It grows in most Rivers of this Island.
II. Planta innominata prima Marcgr. p. 8. Cat. p. 75. Ephemerum Brasilianum ramosum procumbens bipetalon foliis mollioribus. Herm. par. Bat. p. 145. Phalangium Africanum helleborines folio non descriptum. Hort. Lugd. Bat. Raii. Hist. Dipetalos Brasiliana foliis Gentianæ aut plantaginis. Raii Hist. p. 1332. Ephemerum Africanum annuum flore bipetalo Herm. Cat. p. 231.
This sort of Phalangium is very common in all the moist places of this Island, as well as Barbados.
III. Plantago aquatica. Fuchs. Cat. p. 75. Ranunculus palustris plantaginis folio ampliore. Tournef. El. p. 241. Inst. p. 292.
It grows near Black River Bridge, going to Old Harbour, and in several other places of this Island.
This is thought to have the same qualities with Land Plantain, the Seed to be adstringent, and the Leaves good against Burns, and to be applied to Hydropick Legs. Ger.
The juice applied to Breasts is a great secret in clearing them of Milk. Roeslin. J.B.
former.
It grows on old great Trees in the large Woods, ibn Sixteen Mile-Walk-Path, and sometimes on the ground when fallen.
VIII. Viscum Caryophlloides majus, flore tripetalo coeruleo, semine filamentoso. Cat. p. 77.
This by a great many small fibrils, wrapt together, catches hold, and surrounds the Branch of any Tree it grows on, for three Inches round. From thence rises a Stem, about which grow several Leaves, an Inch broad at their beginning, hollow or concave inside, and convex on the other, swell'd out, or prominent below, making a cavity able to hold a pretty deal of Rain water. The other, or upper part of the Leaf is narrow and grassie, something like those of Pinks, about nine or ten Inches long, bow'd backwards, and reflected, and so hanging down, of a whitish green colour. In every thing like the Leaves of the Wild-Pine in their contrivance. The Stalk is a Foot and an half high, jointed, at every Inches distance or joint, having a grassie Leaf, inclosing the Stalk at the joint. Near the top on each side, ex alis foliorum come the Flowers, which have three Petala, are with a few yellow Stamina, scarce appearing out of a green hollow Leaf. After which follow pappous Seeds, being small, oblong and brown, having many long, downy filaments, hanging from them, and being inclosed green, then brown triangular Caffula, fupported by the aforefaid all
Leaf -
grows every where in the Woods on the Branches of Trees, drawing Nourifhment from Rain-water, falling into a Cavity made by its own
It its
Leaves. IX. Fifcum Caryophjlloidcs minus, fol'tis fruinA injiar candkantihtts, flore trifetalo furfureo feminc flamentofo. Cat.f.jy. Tak Ixr. Fig. i. This Plant has feverai fmall fibers, warped, interwoven, or matted one within another, and wrapped about the Arms and Branches of Trees, from
which, though fometimes it be on the under fide of the Bough, rife ftraight up feverai Leaves, the under parts whereof inclofe one another like Bulbs, making in their inward concave fides a cavity to hold Rain, thereby to nourifli themfelves and Stalks. The Leaves are long, narrow, graflie, exactly of the Ihape, make and contrivance with thofe of the Wild-Pine, fomething like the Leaves of a Gillyflower, only all cover'd over with a fliort, white fliining Down, making the Leaves always look as if they were cover'd with a hoar Froft. In the middle of thefe riles a naked hoary, three Inches long Stalk, on the top of which {lands a hoary half Inch long Calyx, on the end of which are three fmall, purple Petala, and afterwards follows a Seed-Vefiel, exadly the fame in every thing with that of the Wild-Pine, only in every part fmaller. It grows every where on the Branches and Arms of Trees in this Illand. ^
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r
X. Vijcum
Caryoph)lloides minus, foliorum imis viridihus, aficihus fuhruhican' diSj flore trifctdo furpureo {emine filament 0, Cat, p. yy. Tab. 112. Fig. i. of
This ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/362 ​It is a great Cordial to fainting spirits, and helps a squeamish Stomach. Its Juice and Wine is good for the suppression of Urin, and Fits of the Stone, as also against Poysons, especially Cassada. The same is done by the Root when the Fruit is wanting. The distill'd Liquor, by Fire from the Fruit, is yet more effectual if it be given in a small quantity, for if too much be given it is hurtful to the urinary passages. It is so injurious and corroding that it not only hurts the Tongue and Pallat, but leaves marks on the Knife that cuts it, especially if the Fruit be not ripe. And then 'tis as prejudicial as Carawata to Women with Child. It is hurtful to people in Fevers, to the wounded or ulcered, it is so hot as to be very injurious to them, therefore I wonder Monardes should reckon it cold and moist. Christopher Acosta saying better, that 'tis hot and moist, and begets inflammations if it be much used. Piso.
The juice is mix'd with water, and given to the sick as we give Mead. Marcgr. It corrodes a Knife in a night, if it sticks in it. Xim. Acost.
Piso says that the old Inhabitants of Brasile told him that this was first carried thence to Peru, and the East-Indies, and Linschotten, that they came to the East from the West-Indies.
The juice takes spots out of Cloaths. Piso.
It is cold and dry, it is given to those in Fevers to cool, and excite Appetite, though apt to turn to Choler. A slice held on the Tongue quenches thirst, and moistens the Tongue. Hernand.
Monardes was very much out when he describes this to have Seeds to be spit out when 'tis eaten.
The Brasilians use it in their sicknesses. Thevet.
It had its name from its likeness to a Pine-Apple, one was carried on its Plant to Charles V. but not lik'd. It is preferv'd in New-Spain. They are best on the Isles Acosta.
It is crowned to show its excellency, and that Crown planted gives a better Fruit than the Succors. It makes the Gums bleed. Its Wine is good, it spoils after three Weeks, but recovers again, both it and the Fruit cause Abortion. Tertre.
It is Cordial, and Stomachic, and is good in Gravel and Poisons. The diftill'd water is good, but care must be had to Correct its Acrimony. Roch.
The Juice with Hony makes a drink in Brasile. Morisot.
The Leaves boil'd in Rice-water, mixt with baleari Powder, and drank Purges Hydropick Bellies. The unripe Fruit given with Vinegar expels the Child out of the Uterus, and eaten Corrects the swelling of the Belly from Wind. Hort. Mal.
This Plant went from the West to the East-Indies, where the Fruit is larger, and Leaves narrower. Large and ripe Fruit was in Amsterdam Garden for five years past. Comm. ib.
The Conserve of this Fruit does not preserve its natural taste. Boym.