# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Book 1/Chapter 17

Chap. XVII.
Of Herbs whose Flowers are composed of several Flowers.
I. Sonchus Lævis Cord. hist. Cat. p. 122. Common smooth Sowthistle.
This is common every where through the whole Island.
It is cooling and adstringent, and good for hot and burning Stomachs. It increases Milk. It is proper for pains and gnawings of of the Stomach. It is a remedy against the bitings of Scorpions. Fuchs.
It begets Milk in Nurses, in Pessaries it is good for Inflammations of those parts. Lon.
They are eat in Italy, especially the tender Roots by way of Sallet. Math.
II. Sonchus asper laciniatus. Park. Cat. p. 123.
I found this on the side of a Hill near Mr. Batchelor's House, about four Miles from the Town of St. Jago de la Vega.
It is good against cold Pains of the Stomach, and Obstructions of the Liver, and Gall Bladder. Adv.
III. Hieraciam fruticosum, angustissimis gramineis foliis, capitulis parvis. Cat. p. 123. Tab. 149. Fig. 3.
This had a whitish oblong Root, with several fibers to draw its Nourishment, from whence rose a solid, straight, striated, green, small Stalk, about a Foot high, having Branches set opposite one to the other, going out of the Alæ of the Leaves. The Leaves were about two or three Inches long, and very hard, like those of Grass, without any Foot-Stalks, ending in points, by which this may be sufficiently distinguish'd from all I have hitherto seen of this Kind. The tops of the Twigs have small Heads of Flowers and after them a long pappous Seed, as others of this Kind.
I am not certain where I found this.
IV. Hieracium minimum, longis integris & angustis foliis. Cat. p. 123. Tab. 150. Fig. 1.
From a small, fibrous, oblong Root, springs one round, red Stalk, three or four Inches high, having here and there, without any order, little Branches set with many long, not indented, nor sinuated, narrow Leaves. Their edges are hairy, and their backsides spotted with blackish spots. At the tops of the Branches stand yellow Flowers, in every thing like those of the other Hieraciums.
It grows every where in the drier or sandy places of the Town Savanna.
V. Dens leonis, folio subtus incano, flore purpureo. Cat. p. 123. Tab. 150. Fig. 2.
This has several reddish, Inch long Roots, which united make an half Inch long white one, sending forth round the top of the Root, on the surface of the Ground, a great many Leaves three Inches long, and one broad, near the end where broadest. The Leaves have near the Root several deep Incisures or jags, and there they are narrow, as the others of this Kind. The upper side of the Leaf is of a dark green colour, and under it is very white or woolly, and in every thing for shape it is like the Leaf of our common ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/427 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/428 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/429 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/430 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/431 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/432 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/433 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/434 ​round Head, of many white tubulous, oblong Flowers, each Flower standing in a chaffy Calyx, or Perianthium, made up of several dry, brownish membranes, which afterwards contains three or four small, oblong, smooth, and shining gray Seeds, having a few pappous hairs on their upper ends.
It grew in the Woods on the Road to Colonel Cope's Plantation in Guanaboa, and in several other Woods of this Island very plentifully.
This is not the Plant called Eupatorio affinis Americana, bulbosa floribus scariosis calyculis contectis. Plukenet. Alm. p. 142. Phyt. Tab. 177. Fig. 4. as Doctor Plukenet thinks it may be in his Mantissa, p. 73.
XXXI. Eryngium foliis angustis ferratis fœtidum. Cat. p. 127. Tab 156. Fig. 3,4. An Eryngium fœtidum oblongis capitulis Americanum. Pluken. Alm. p. 137?
This Plant has six or seven round, smooth, whitish Roots, about ten Inches long, going straight down into the Earth, taking very firm rooting therein, which uniting in one towards the surface of the Earth, there sends forth Leaves spread on the Ground on every hand, to the number of five or six, eight Inches long, and one broad near the end where broadest, very deeply serrated, and having on its edge soft prickles. From the middle of the Leaves rise one or two Stalks about a Foot and an half high, being round, green, hollow, smooth, always divided into two, or observing a Dichotomy, and having at parting two deeply-cut, prickly, short, Leaves. The top or Heads are like those of other Eryngiums, having several long, narrow Leaves under them, which are prickly; they are at first greenish, afterwards brown, and have several brown Seeds set round a small column. All parts of the Plant have a very penetrating strong, though not very unsavoury smell.
It grows at the Crescent Plantation near the Orange Walk on the Banks of the Rio Cobre, in moist, low, flat Grounds in several other places, by Colonel Bourden's House, in his Plantation, and in Barbados.
It is counted one of the greatest Alexipharmaca's of these parts. The Destill'd water of it is reckon'd a very great Antepileptick, and extremely to resist Hysterick Fits.
I question not this being the Plant mentioned by Hernandez, called Cohayelli, every thing agreeing to it. He tells us that,
It is hot in the fourth Degree, tasts like Skirrets; though a little sharp and smelling. The Root powdered, and taken to the quantity of three Drams in ten Ounces of water, strengthens the weak and cold Stomach, eases pains of the Belly and other parts from Colds, dissipates Wind, is good for Colick and Iliack Diseases, is Diuretick, and helps the Catamenia, cures Surfeits, incites to Venery, and is good against the Bites of Venemous Serpents. It has a better effect, if it be given out of a hot and strengthening Liquor, it dissipates preternatural Tumours, and humours in the Joints, and remedies all cold intemperatures. Hernandez.
It is called Itubu in Surinam, or Fuga Serpentum, because they come not where it grows. 'Tis Alexipharmac from its volatile Salt, and the smell of the Leaves cures Hysterick Fits. Hern.
The End of the first Volume.