BO TAN Y . 313
it is difficult to imagine why, unless when hogs were first turned
into the Island, three centuries ago, there was more of it than now
exists, and they fed upon it)', is a slender trailing little thing bearing
pink blossoms ; it inhabits the low, rocky, barren land near the sea-
coast at alt. -6, especially in the neighbourhood of Ladder Hill,
Munden’s, Rupert’s, &c., on the northern coast. I t dies away
during the hot weather in February and March, and shoots again in
the spring.—Hah. Tropics generally.
Bougainvillea, Comm.
568. B. spectabilis, Willd.—Recently introduced from Madeira;
one plant at the Hermitage only.—Hab. Brazil.
Mirabilis, Linn.
569. M. jalapa , Linn.—Five varieties of .this plant, commonly
called Four o’Clock, grow in the Island—viz., the White, the Red,
the Yellow, the Red and White, and the Red and Yellow-flowered.
I t may he said to grow almost wild and is common at all altitudes
from a few feet to one or two thousand above the sea. I t flourishes
in the poorest soils, attains to a shrub four feet in height, and
flowers abundantly. The roots grow very large, hut are not made
use of. Although they possess some medicinal quality they do not,
as has been supposed in the Island, yield the medicine called jalap.
Bot. Mag. 8 71—Hab. West Indies.
85. B asellace^e .
Basella, Linn.
570. B. ru b ra , Linn.—Called Poisarg; commonly grown in gardens,
and used as a substitute for spinach. C. to H. L. Seeds freely.
—Hah. Trop. Asia.
Boussingaultia, H. B. K.
571. B. baselloides, H. B. K.—The Bridle-wreath Vine has very
recently been introduced from Brazil, but already grows abundantly
in gardens both on the high and low lands. This plant appears to
be one of the few which grow in Georgetown, at the Island of
Ascension. I t is there much valued as a verandah climber. I t
blossoms at St. Helena, but is propagated from the root. Bot.
Mag. 3620.—Hab. S. America, Quitinian Andes.