# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Book 1/Chapter 5

Chap. V.
Of Herbs with less perfect or Stamineous Flowers.
There are in this Chapter some Plants which I confess I believe may by those more skilful be reduced to other Families, some of them having parts so extraordinary small as not to be easily visible, and perhaps others have perfect Flowers, which escap'd my observation.
Some of these are also very anomalous that I could not find any other place than by their Face or Leaves to reduce them to those of Europe placed by the more skilful here.
It may be objected to me that I have brought hither Nettles, or called Plants so, which have many of them tricoccous Seeds, which had better been with the Ricini; to this I answer that the Hortus Malabaricus has described several Plants under the name of Schorigenam's, with the same kind of Fruit, and no body found any fault with the Authors of that Book, of Mr. Ray for reducing them thither.
One thing in this Section falls very oddly, which is that in three or more sorts of such Plants as by their Face must of necessity be esteemed Ricini by all People, there are perfect Pentapetalous Flowers, and after these the Fruit follows contrary to those observed hitherto by others.
Before the Species of long Peppers are described, there is an observation relating to them to be taken notice of in this place.
I. Urtica racemosa scandens, angustifolia, fructu tricocco. Cat. p. 38. Tab. 82. Fig. 1. An urticafolia Jamaicensis tricoccos, Mus. Corten. Plukenet. Alm. p. 393? Ricinus parvus urens urticæ filio Banister, Cat. Stirp. Virg?
This has a woody, reddish, striated Stalk, something cornered, as those of Nettles, which turns about any Plant or Tree it comes near, and rises six or seven Foot high, having a strong Bark, something like that of Hemp. Towards the tops of this Stalk are many two or three inches long Branches, very thick set with Leaves without any order, each of which has a half Inch long, rough Foot-Stalk, is Inch long, and half as broad near the round Base, where broadest, and whence it by degrees lessens till it ends in a point, having the Margins deeply cut, and being all over very thick set with burning Hairs, as those of ordinary Nettles. Out of the Ala of the ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/295 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/296 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/297 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/298 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/299 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/300 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/301 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/302 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/303 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/304 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/305 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/306 ​This agreed exactly with those of this Kind immediately preceding, in its Trunk, Joints, etc., only it was higher and larger: the Leaves were likewise very different, being much larger, they stood on one third part of an Inch long Foot-Stalks, were eight Inches long, and four broad, near the beginning where broadest, being pointed at the end, and roundish, at beginning smooth, of a dark green colour, and having few Veins in comparison with those preceding, and in proportion to the Leaf. The Spike or Julus was neither long nor big.
It grew in the Woods not far from Rio-Nuevo in the North side of this Island.
XIX. *Piper longum racemosum malequum*. Cat. p. 45. **Santa Maria Leaves.**
This has a strong Root composed of several very short blackish ones, which send up a straight Stalk, as thick as one's Thumb, jointed, of a gray colour, rough, round, striated, with some furrows in it, rising three or four Foot high, having towards the top Leaves alternatively, first on one, then on the other side of the Stalk, at the joints, where its four or five inches long round Foot-Stalk encompasses the Stalk, leaving a mark when it falls off. The Leaves are cordated or like a Heart, of those of the Lime-Tree, only the Nerves run from the top of the Foot-Stalk, as from a common center, through the whole Leaf, which is very soft, of a dark green colour, somewhat like those of Mallows, and of about seven and eight inches diameter. The Flowers and Fruit come out *ex alis fol.*, being three or four *Juli* two inches long, at first white, then green, standing upon a common half-inch long Foot-Stalk.
They grow in stony shady moist Woods, and by shady River sides, very plentifully.
The Leaves being very soft and large, are applied to the Head when it aches, or to any of the Joints in the Gout, and are thought to ease pain in every affected part, and therefore this is esteemed as a very rare Remedy, by all Indians and Negroes, and most part of Planters, but I could not find that this Leaf could do any more than Coleworts, only ‘tis not so nervous, and so softer.
The Leaves are boiled and eaten in Pottage by the Negroes.
If the *Jul: or Pepper* be boiled in water, and exposed to the Sun, they grow stronger and more durable for all uses. The Root smells like Clover, and is hot to the third Degree, reckoned a Counter-Poison, and of thin subtle, and therefore opening parts. If bruised and put like a Poultice to any diseased part, it ripens and cleanses. The juice of the Leaves, because cold, eases burnings; and the Leaves put into Clysters, have the same qualities with Mallows.
It is called in Santo Domingo *Cellet de Notredame*. **Plumier.**
This is not the *Serpentaria repens floribus flammeis pictis bryoniae folio amphibie pingui*. **Plukenet**, *Phyt. Tab.* 147. *Fig.* 3. & 4. as the Dr. thinks in his *Mart.* p. 170. Any person comparing that with this will find many differences.
XX. *Piper longum humilins frutic & summitate caulis prodeunte.* Cat. p. 45.
This has a creeping jointed Root, striking into the loose Earth, several Tufts of hairy fibers at the joints. The Stalks are round, green, jointed, rising a Foot high, the Leaves are several, placed along the length of the Stalk one by one, are four inches long, and two broad, at the top, where broadest, having no Foot-Stalk, beginning narrow, and augmenting by degrees to the top, they are thick, succulent, smooth, of a dark green colour, having some... ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/308 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/309 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/310 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/311 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/312 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/313 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/314 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/315 ​It grows on the sandy, salt, marsh Grounds at Passage Fort in the very Town, and in other such places in this Island.
It is pickled and candied in Barbados.
XL. Herniaria lucida aquatica. Cat. p. 50. Tab. 93. Fig. 2.
The Roots of this are many, small and hairy. The Stalk is green, round, erect, lucid, or almost transparent, about a Foot high, having on each side alternatively a small Branch, and opposite to it a tuft of Leaves, and out of the Branches after the same manner come Twigs, having very small, green, lucid Leaves, like those of Polygonum, only smaller in every part, very thick set, one against another. The Flowers come out ex eorum ala, on very small Petioli, either reddish, or green, which looked on by the Eye, arm'd with a Microscope, appear Tetrapetalous. The Seed follows as small as dust.
The whole Plant is adstringent to the tast.
It grows on the Banks of most Rivers, and on the wet sides of Rocks.
XLI. Corchoro affinis, chamædryos folio, flore stamineo, seminibus atris quadrangulis duplici serie dispositis. Cat. p. 50. Tab. 94. Fig. 1. An Corchorus Americanus minor carpini folio siliqua angustissima ex lateribus ramulorum proveniente. Br. pr. 2. p. 36?
This has a very deep blackish coloured Root, which sends up a round, brownish, woody Stem, rising three or four foot high, being divided into Branches on every Hand. The Leaves come out several together, some greater, some smaller, at half an Inches distance, on half an Inch long Foot-Stalks. They are half an Inch long, and a quarter broad, at Base where broadest, of a grass green colour, indented about the edges, and smooth. Opposite to the Leaves comes yellow Flowers, being stamineous, after which follows a two Inch long, dark brown Pod, or Seed-Vessel, something like those of the Sesamum, only having two round sides, instead of four, five, or six; in each of which two rows, are contained, a great many black, quadrangular, small Seeds, the rows or sides being separated from one another by a Membrane, dividing them. The Pod when ripe opens at the end, and scatters the Seed.
It grew on a rocky Hill, on which Colonel Fuller's House was built, and in several rocky grounds near Guanaboa.
XLII. Aparine paucioribus foliis semine lævi. Cat. p. 50. Tab. 94. Fig. 2.
The Root is jointed, having at every joint several hairy fibers striking themselves into the Earth, sending up a jointed, greenish square Stalk, four or five Foot high, striated, a little rough and hollow, slender, and needing the support of neighbouring Plants. At the joints which are always protuberant and reddish, stand the Leaves opposite one to the other, on an half Inch long Foot-Stalks, being an Inch and a quarter long, and half an Inch broad in the middle where broadest, of a pale green colour, a little rough. The Flowers come out ex alis foliorum, are pale green, Muscose, or made like Juli, each of which is a quarter of an Inch long. After these follow several brown Seed-Vessels disposed Verticillatim, two being always joined together, each being round on one side, or Semicircular, and flat on the other, and both make a Globe, each half containing one black Seed, of the same shape.
It grows plentifully amongst the Woods going from Town to Guanaboa, &c.