# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Book 1/Chapter 11

Chap. XI.
Of vasculiferous Herbs with pentapetalous Flowers.
I. Cistus urticæ folio, flore luteo, vasculis trigonis. Cat p. 86. Tab. 127. Fig. 4.5.
This Shrub has a Stem as big as ones Thumb, covered with a reddish brown, smooth Bark, rising three or four Foot high, and having many Branches towards the top, spread thinly on all hands. They are beset with Leaves and small Sprigs. The Leaves are some greater, some smaller, those largest stand on an half Inch long Foot-Stalks, being two Inches and an half long, and one Inch broad in the middle where broadest, notch'd about the edges, hoary or woolly, soft, having one middle Rib, and several tranverse ones. They are of a yellowish dark green colour, and they have a scent like Cistus; and somewhat resemble the Leaves of Cannabis spuria. On the tops of the Twigs and Branches come the Flowers standing in a pentaphyllous Calyx. They are pentapetalous, yellow, or Orange coloured, very large, and like the Flowers of Cistus, after which follows a small Head, made up of three strong cartilagineous membranes, in which are lodged the Seeds, which are large.
It grew between Guanaboa and the Town on the Red Hills very plentifully, in the Road going to the Angels near the Gate, and in several other places of this Island.
II. Chamæcistus urticæ folio, flore luteo. Cat p. 87. Tab. 127. Fig. 6.
This has a small, straight, white, short Root, having some small, white fibers on each side, from whence springs one round, rough Stalk, two Inches high, having Branches opposite to one another, and Leaves which are three quarters of an Inch long, and one third part of an Inch broad, very deep cut in on the edges, and rough, like those of Cannabis spuria. The Flower stands at top, it is very woolly or hairy, surrounded by three or four Leaves. It is of a deep yellow colour in the inner part, pentapetalous, large, and making a fine show. After this follows a small Head, made up of three cartilagineous Membranes, inclosing some large Seeds, of a white colour, very pleasantly striated, and like those of Mallows.
It grows in the Town Savanna after Rain.
III. Chamæcistus caule hirsuto, folio oblongo, angusto, sinuato, flore luteo, pediculo insidente. Cat. p. 87. Tab. 127. Fig. 7.
This has a wooddy, oblong Root, with several lateral fibrils, which sends up sometimes a single, and sometimes two or three wooddy, round Stalks, about three or four Inches high, being covered with a reddish coloured hair, or small Prickles, which although they look very fierce, yet I never observed ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/374 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/375 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/376 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/377 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/378 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/379 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/380 ​Stalk, but beginning very narrow, and augmenting to that breadth: Succulent, of a deep green colour, smooth, having notches or incisures into the Leaves like those of Senecio, or great Daisie. Ex alis foliorum comes the Flowers standing on a short Foot-Stalk, being small, white, and the margin very deeply divided into five parts. After which follows a great many very small brown Seeds, standing in an oblong, cylindrical, four cornered, brown Capsula, divided into two parts. Of this there is a variety, being smaller.
It grows in the Savanna, and about the Houses of the Town of St. Jago de la Vega, very plentifully.
Why some give it the name of Thea, I cannot imagine.
It grows in Greece wild, and is call'd Cusermont by the Turks. Wheeler apud D. Plukenet. It is call'd Cabrita by those of Curasao, because Goats feed on it. id.