# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Book 1/Chapter 14

Chap. XIV.
Of Herbs commonly accounted to have many naked Seeds.
For the Tribe of Mallows 'tis very large, and to be divided here into three distinct Divisions. The first that of Mallows, where the Seeds have sticking to them their outward membrane very close. The other, or second, where this membrane is something laxer, or a Follicle, which are properly call'd Abutila. The third contains the Alceæ, where these Follicles are not disjoined as in the others, but contiguous to one another. All these come near to the Multisiliquose Tribe.
Mallows, according to some, are properly roundish leav'd, Alceæ those whose Leaves are cut, and Altheæ those who Leaves are hoary.
I. Malva arborea, folio rotundo, cortice in funes ductili, flore miniato maximo liliaceo. Cat. p. 95. Tab. 134. Fig. 1,2,3. The Mahot or Mangrove-Tree.
The Roots of this Tree are many, round, white, and long, entering the surface of the Earth, and not running very deep. Several Truncs as big as ones Thigh, rise up to about fifteen of twenty Foot high. Their outward Bark is very white, and almost smooth, the inward is yellowish when fresh, and red when dry, and then very tough, and serves to make Ropes. The Leaves stand, at the ends of the Branches, on four Inches long Foot-Stalks, being cordated, or almost round, of about five Inches Diameter, a little indented on the edges, soft, smooth, of very dark green colour, and having the Veins apparent, running from the Foot-Stalks end, as from a common Center, through the several parts of the Leaf. The Flowers come out of the ends of the Twigs, standing in a pentaphyllous, green, hoary Capsula, they are pentapetalous, each of the Petala being two inches long, and of a red colour, inclosing a red Pestle or Stylus of the same length, on which are many Stamina, the whole Flower looking like a red Lilly. After these follow brown Seeds, of the shape, and plac'd like those of Mallows, only much larger. Tab. 134, Fig. 1. shews the Leaf, Fig. 2. the Flower, and Fig. 3. a piece of the inward Bark, whereof are made the Ropes.
It grew in Colonel Bourden's Plantation, as well as in many of the inland moist parts of this Island.
'Tis chiefly useful by its Bark, which is peel'd off, and made into Ropes of all sorts, for the use of the island.
The Bark is taken off the Branches with Knives, then beat with a Mallet 'till the first gross one be separated from the second: of the more gross is made Cords of the other Britches, for the Negroes and Slaves, Cauche.
II. Malva arborea maritima, folio subrotundo minore acuminato subtus candido, tortice in funes ductili, flore luteo. Cat. p. 93. Tab. 134. Fig. 4. Mahault de Bouton. p. 68. An Ampoufoutchi de Flacourt. p. 144? Malva arborea Indica, abutili foliis argentea, sub externo cortice tenediophoros, & simmis ramis radicosa. Pluk. Mant. p. 75. An Arbor Americana Tænidiophoros, vittas & tæniolas plurimas tramosericas seinvicem incumbentes, longitudinaliter sub externo cortice ferens. Ejusd. Alm. p. 41. ?Mahot of Ogilby. Amer. p. 348. & 377. ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/387 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/388 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/389 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/390 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/391 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/392 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/393 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/394 ​The Seed is counted Cordial, and powdered with Coffee, is good for the Stomach, Head and Heart, Vesting. and is therefore given in Palpitations of the Heart, powdered to a Dram. Alp.
It is in great price, and used by the Egyptian Women in Baths, but to what purpose they will not reveal to Christians. Bell. ap J.B.
The Confectioners in France use the Seed to give a good smell to their Comfits. Tertre.
XXIV. Alcea acetosa, trifido folio Indiæ orientalis. Breyn. prod. Cat. p. 99. Alcea Acetosa Indica gossypii folio pericarpio coccinei coloris, capsici siliquam amulante. Plukenet. Alm. p. 15. An sair Indorum Oxalis Cannabina fruticosa fructu coccineo coronato. Triumf. M.SS. Cupan. Hort. Cathol. p. 194. Ketmia Indica, gossypii folio, acetosæ sapore. Tournef. Inst. p. 100. French Sorrel.
This rises higher than a Man, it has a thick round Stalk, covered with a red Bark, with a Pith within it, and a great number of Branches coming out on all sides, without any order, three or four Foot long, having Leaves standing on red, Inch long Foot-Stalks, being about three Inches long, and two broad at the Base, and divided into three great Laciniæ, each of which has a Rib going from the Center through the Leaf, which are all red, they are also indented, about the edges green, the whole Plant having a sowr tast like Sorrel, whence the name. Ex alis foliorum come the Flowers standing on short Foot-Stalks, of a greenish yellow colour, with purple in the bottom, large, and pentapetalous, with Stylus and Stamina, as in this Kind, standing within five Capsular, red, small, long Leaves, inclosed by twice as many narrower of the same sort, being very red and thick. When the Flowers fall off there follows a membranaceous, oblong, round, five cornered, pointed, sharp Capsula, in which are five Cells, containing so many rows of roundish, compress'd, light, brown Seeds, like those of Mallows, only much larger.
It is planted in most Gardens of this Island.
The Capsular Leaves are made use of for making Tarts, Gellies, and Wine, to be used in Fevers, and hot Distempers, to allay Heat, and quench Thirst.
The Root given to two Drams, purges easily the Stomach and Guts. Hernandez. Whose Description agrees, the Stature excepted, but his Figure is very faulty.
The first Leaves are sometimes whole, commonly divided into three Laciniæ, and sometimes like Elleborastrum, into seven Sections.
The Leaves either alone, or boiled with other Herbs, are eaten by Indians. The Stalks are, as Hemp with us, spun into Ropes and Yarn, therefore set in their Fields and Gardens. Herm.
XXV. Caryophyllata foliis alatis. Cat. p. 99. Caryophyllata Campestris elatior Brasiliana foliis acuminatis. Pluk. Almag. p. 87.
This is well describ'd and figur'd by Piso, so that there needs no more be said of it, but that 'tis very common in the Woods of this Island.
It is very Hot and Dry, it attenuates, Cuts, Cleanses and is Adstringent, and therefore is not only good to corroborate the Bowels, but likewise to cut tough Humours. Piso.