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 verysmall,
