# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Book 1/Chapter 10

Chap. X.
Of Herbs whose Flowers are compos'd of four Petala or Leaves.
Leucoium luteum, sive Keiri minimum polygalæ facie. Cat. p. 79. Tab. 123. Fig. 1.
This has a great Root in respect of the Plant, being more than an Inch long, woody, of a white brown colour, and firmly fix’d in the ground. From hence spring two or three Stalks, two or three Inches long, having several Leaves exactly like those of Polygala vulgaris. The Flowers are at top of the Branches, yellow, and tetrapetalous, after which follows a small Pod.
It grows in the claiy grounds in the Town Savannas.
This does not agree with the Title of Polygala S. flos Ambervalis Viginiana floribus luteis in caput oblongum congestis Banisteri. Pluk. Alm. p. 301. which Plant Dr. Plukenet thinks p. 153. Mant. may be the same with this.
II. Sinapi foliis subrotundis, serratis, semine rufo. Cat. p. 79. Tab. 123. Fig. 2. Mustard.
This has a white large Root with many fibers. The Leaves at bottom round the top of the Root on the surface of the ground, are almost round at their end. They are six Inches long, narrow at their beginning, and growing broader towards their top, where they are round, and three Inches in diameter, very much serrated, and of a yellowish green colour. The Stalk is round, green, four or five Foot high, having some Leaves plac'd on it without any order, longer, smaller, and not so round as those at bottom. The Stalk has towards its top several Branches, beset with yellow tetrapetalous Flowers, having Stamina of the same colour, and in the Center a green Stylus. After which comes an Inch long Pod, swelled or protuberant on the outside over every Seed, round and containing two rows of small, round, smooth, reddish Seeds, with a thin membrane between.
It grows frequently in the cultivated places of this Island.
The Seeds, if prepared as our European Mustard-Seeds, make as good a Sawce.
III. Nasturtium aquaticum vulgare. Park. Cat. p. 79.
This is very common in all not too rapid Rivers, chiefly near Springs, from whence they are brought down, and thrive in most Rivers of this Island.
This grows much larger than ordinary on the Laguna in the Caymanes, whence it is in great quantities carried to Port-Royal Market; but it seems to be no different Kind, but only a variety, and this variety in largeness, in deeper waters, is taken notice of by Lobel in his Adversaria.
It is very good against the Scurvy or Chronical Diseases, it is Diuretick, and very opening, being made use of for many days together, in Sallads or Broaths, especially the first.
The Seed breaks the Stone, and forces the Catamenia. Dorst.
It is not to be used by Women with Child, if the Child be not dead. Lon.
If Boiled in Milk or Wine, and so used, it cures the Scurvy. Dod.
It is very Diuretick even outwardly applied. Cesalp.
​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/365 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/366 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/367 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/368 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/369 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/370 ​cis torulis canaliculatis. Bob. Hist. Ox. pvrt. 3. p. 522. An Cuechiliz tomatl. Hernandez. p. 374? The Great Virginia red Nightshade.
I could not observe any difference between Parkinson's Great red Virginia Solanum, and this growing here, and therefore will not give the description of it, it seeming to me to be the same.
It grows on the more mountainous parts of this Island, as in Liguance, on the Mountains above Mr. Elletson's Plantation, on Mount Diablo, in going to the North side, and several the more cool places of this Island.
It is used by the Indians in New-England to dye their Skins and the Barks wherewith they make their Baskets. English People in Virginia call it Red Weed. Virginia Nightshade is a familiar Purger in Virginia and New-England. A dpoonful or two of the juice of the Root works strongly. dried Root has not, upon trial, been found to have that effect. Park.
Theru-Caniram. H. M. Is of this Kind.
XXI. Solanum racemofum Americanum minus. Cat. p. 85. An Heliotropium Curassavicum Scammonii foliis mollibus subhirsutis. Herm. par. Bat. prod? Amaranthus baccifer Circce foliis. Hort. Amst. part. 1. p. 127.
This has a small, oblong, fibrous Root, which sends up one green, round Stalk, two Foot high, having many Branches. The Leaves stand on the Stalks without any order, are almost like thoſe of Circæa Lutetiana, or the foregoing, only lesser. The Flowers come in a Spike on the tops of the Branches, which have some large hairs or soft prickles, they have very short Foot-Stalks, are many, white, and tetrapetalous, after which follow some very small, at first green, then red Berries.
It grows every where in the Woods of this Island, and in the Caribes.
De Tertre tells us of a small Solanum, and a Plant like Circæa, which, with the juice of its Root, Cures the Tooth-ach. Perhaps that like Circæa was this.
XXII. Ghandiroba vel Nhandi-roba Brasiliensibus. Marcgr. Cat. p. 85.
This grew very plentifully on a Lime-Hedge near Mrs. Guys House in her Plantation in Guanaboa, as also in Mountain River Woods, and in several other places. The Fruit, or inward Nuts, are carried down fresh Rivers into the Sea, and thence are thrown upon the Banks by the Waves again very frequently.
The Inhabitants of Brasile make an Oil of the Kernel of this Fruit, which they use in their Lamps, being very clear, good, and withal flow in consuming. It cannot be us'd for Victuals being bitter, as is the whole Fruit. Marcgr.
This Oil is good against Aches from Cold, it being Hot. I remember to have seen whole Families of those of Brasile Sick with the Night Air, restor'd with this Oil. Piso.
XXIII. Clematis baccifera, glabra & villosa, rotundo & umbilicato folio. Plumier. Cat. p. 85. An Caapeba. Pis. Worm. mus. p. 158? An Volubilis seu baccifera Virginiana. officulo compresso lunato, caudice lento, foliis hederaceis nasturtii Indici more umbilicatis. Banist. Pluken. Alm. p. 393? Velvet-Leaf.
This has a round, whitish, wooddy Stalk, with which it turns about, and catches hold of any Tree it comes near, and rises to its top, and thence falls down again, putting forth all along some small Branches, having several Leaves, like a Heart, or almost round, of about an Inch in Diameter, the edges being undivided. They are of a white yellowish colour, very thick set with a whitish down, or soft hair, feeling to the touch as Velvet, whence its name. The Flowers come out among the Leaves are hanging on a two Inches long Strings, as those of Nettles, each Flower being very ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/372 ​This is not the Cuscuta Lendiginosa, &c. Plukenet. Tab. 26. Fig. 6. as the Doctor conjectures, Mantiss. p. 61. as may be seen above p. 191. his Cuscuta Lendiginosa, being the inward part of the Viscum cariophylloides, &c. there described, the little knots in it being at the places of the Stalks where the Branches were placed.
It grows on the Palisadoes, Trees, Shrubs, and Fields near the Rio Cobre, about and below the Town of St. Jago de la Vega very plentifully.