# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Book 1/Chapter 6

Chap. VI.
Of Herbs with monopetalous Flowers.
In Jamaica the Tribe of Plants with monopetalous Flowers is pretty large, especially that elegant Sett of them called Convolvuli. They are most beautiful for the number and elegancy of the colours of their Flowers, far exceeding those of Europe. 'Tis somewhat odd, that whereas most of this kind of Plant are Purgative, a sort of Potato, first Convolvulus here mentioned, affords a Root, which by being an Aliment, goes a great way in affording Nourishment to the Inhabitants of the hotter parts of the World. It is also remarkable that there are more Convolvuli than one here, which have only one Seed following the Flower; whereas, generally speaking, there are in most Convolvuli three, and yet no person versed in Herbs, but who on reading the Description, or at first sight of these Plants, but must by the whole face of them, allow them to be true Convolvuli.
There are some of this Tribe that seem somewhat more anomalous than ordinary, all I can say to my reducing them hither, is, that 'tis the best place I could find, and that I shall be very glad any body of better Judgment will find a more proper.
There are none in this Tribe stranger than the Kinds of Arum, many of which are scandent, and several cultivated for Food, some for their Roots, and others for their Leaves, as shall be seen hereafter. Galen seems to take notice of Colocassia Roots, and Apicius has many Receipts for dressing of them.
I. Nicotiana major latifolia, C.B. Cat. p. 51. Petun de Bouton. p. 80. Tabac. Ejusd. p. 124. Tabaco de Esquemeling, p. 52. & 57. Tabacum seu nicotiana major latifolia Eyst. Petun ou Tabacque ou Nicotien de Flacourt. p. 146. p. 146. Tobacco of Dampier. cap. 12. Tabac de Biet. p. 336. De Rochef. Tab. p. 57. De Olivier Oexmelin. p. 76. De Maire, p. 80. Tabacum Mirand. fin. & Eur. p. 873. Sana sancta Indorum sive Nicotiana Gallerum. Swert. part. 2. Tab. 23. Tobacco.
This growing here agrees exactly to the Description given of it in Authors.
It is planted by most Planters in their Plantations, for the use of themselves, and in some for Sale. Before the English took this Island, the Spaniards had there as good as any was in the Indies, which they were careful of, and planted it by the dry River; but the English not taking care of their Seed, they lost the best sorts, and what they have now is planted along the Banks of this River.
Tobacco was most planted, used, and in esteem in the North parts of America, where probably (the want of Provisions being greater than in most parts of the World) it in some measure help'd the Inhabitants to pass their time without them. Nicol tells us five of his Company were lost in time of distress, who could not smoke it, though he confesses it did not Nourish. From the West-Indies it was propagated to the East-Indies, Africa, &c. and in 1586. 'twas by Sir Francis Drake brought into England. In all places where it has come, it has very much bewitched the Inhabitants from the more polite Europeans, to the Barbarous Hottentots.
​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/318 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/319 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/320 ​When any wet touches the end of the Seed Vessel, with a smart noise, and sudden leap it opens its self, and with a spring scatters its Seed to a pretty distance round it, where it grows.
It grows under the Shrubs in iho. Savannas about the Town, and isinperiQ^iion
(bme time
after a rainy (cafon.
The
admirable contrivance of Nature, in this Plant, to propagate itsfelf, is moH plain, for the Seed- VeiTels being the bell preferver of the Seed, 'tis till it be Earth, rainy, when 'tis and Air of injuries the there kept from thrown round the Earth as it is then and to grow, it for a proper time Grain by a skilful Sower. This is a very good Wound-Herb, a very excellent Salve, being made with it and Suet boil'd together, and then (Irain'd. It is
us'd likewife
apphed on
IlTues to
make them
run.
not have taken this Plant to be mentioned by Dr. Pkkenet, as above, had not he pofitively faid fo, p. 167. of his Mantiffa. I fliould
III.
Convulvuhis
radice
tuhercfa
cfcuknta
y
alho, ft
ffinachia folio, flore
Pat at as de Ejq do furVurco, fcmine pofi jlngulos flore s fingulo. Cat, p. 53. mdhigy p-SA- Batatas Hifpanorum Svpert. part. 1, Tab. 35". Pat ales de Bout on, Convolvulus Tabl. angulofis fo^^. Bh't. PaLites de Rochcf. p. p.^-^^, 47. Potatoes of Malabar icus radtce tuber ofa eduli. Plukcnet. Almag, p. 114. Dampier. p. 10. &c. An Mavrandrcs de Flacourt. p. 116} Spanifh Patatas. The Root is tuberous, for fliape and bignefs very uncertain, but being for the mod part oblong, as big as a Hen- Egg, from a fwell'd middle tapering to both extremes, yellow, and fweet within when roaftcd, tailing like a boil'd Chelnut, and having many fibrils, by which it draws its Nourifhmenc. The Stalks are green, a httle cornered, and creeping for many Feet in length along the furface of the Earth, and putting forth Leaves and Flowers at every Inches diHance. The Leaves Hand on five Inch long green Foot-Stalks, they are almoll Triangular, having two Ears, and a fliarp point oppofitc to They are five Inches broad from Ear to Ear, and three from the Foot-Stalk. the Foot-Stalks end to the point, having under them purple Ribs, being (oft, fmooth, and of a yellowilh green colour, fomething re&mbling the Leaves of Spinage. The Flowers come out ex alts fol. Handing on a three or four. Inches long, green Foot-Stalk, being monopetalous. Bell Falhion'd, not^ very Sta middle fome in the having without, whitiih and within open, purple and brown, one Seed, follows ufually Flower After each Stylus. and a winay mem brown, roundilli, a in Itisinclofed it. fcveral depreflions in having branaceous Capfula, under which ftand five brown capfular withered Leaves
liis,
H
as in the other Convolvuli.
f
fame in every thing, only the Roots are reddilh, which is as common as the white, and grows indifferently with it. They are every where planted after a rainy Sealbn in the Plantations, for Provifion, by the flip, a piece of the Stalk and Leaves, being put either into Hillocks Httle railed through the Field, or into Howing, after Field plain the better. In months after planting thrive four to thought are they which in ground them, fiU'd with being the gathered, and be to ready ey are Worms. are eaten they longer by any therein continue they Jmerka, make^^^^ of feems to and Bata Defcription liis in Lhfchoten, f^/ t;wo Roots, which are nevcrthelefs the fame. They vai;y very much as to the figure and bignels_qf the Root, the co of its Skin being fometimesred, and moll commonly white- Thev^ are (pmetimes turbinated, at other times round, and mod commonly biggeft
.,-...the middle, and tapering to both extreipes 14^
There
is
another Kind of
this, the
^j^-^^^^
iFy%
!^r
They ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/322 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/323 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/324 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/325 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/326 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/327 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/328 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/329 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/330 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/331 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/332 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/333 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/334 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/335 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/336 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/337 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/338 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/339 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/340 ​It grows running along the Rocks, in shady Woods, in sixteen Mile Walk, and elsewhere.
XLVII. Colocasia hederacea sterilis minor folio cordato. Plumier. Cat. p. 63. Arum Americanum scandens foliis cordiformibus. Tournef. Inst. p. 159.
This has a green, juicy, jointed Stem, of about the bigness of a Goose-Quill, being round and smooth, climbing by means of its large Clavicles it has at joints to about thirty or forty Foot high, and hanging down again to the ground. At every three or four Inches, it puts out Leaves standing on two Inches long, green Foot-Stalks, the Leaf it self being cordated, or of the shape of a Heart, three Inches long, and two broad at the round Base, where broadest, and whence it decreases, ending in a point, being smooth, or equal on the edges, very juicy, green, and having several Striæ, or small superficial Veins appearing on it, being lucid and shining, and very pleasant to look on. What Fruit or Flower it bears I know not, never having seen them, though I have frequently observed it, both in Jamaica, and the Caribes, but believe with F. Plumier it is a Colocasia, and therefore have placed it here.
It grows in the woody shady places of Jamaica, and the Caribes.