in botany: A genus of the trigyna order, belonging to the pentandra class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 23rd order, Dumosa. The calyx is quinquepartite; the petals are five; and the fruit is a trisperous berry. There are three species, all of them natives of warm climates.

Of these the most remarkable is the yapon, which is a native of the maritime parts of Virginia and Carolina. It rises to the height of ten or twelve feet, sending out branches from the ground upward, garnished with spear-shaped leaves placed alternately, which continue green through the year. The flowers are produced in close whorls round the branches, at the footstalks of the leaves; they are white, and divided into five parts, almost to the bottom. The berries are of a beautiful red colour, and as they continue most part of the winter upon the plants without being touched by the birds, we may reasonably conclude that they are possessed of a poisonous quality; as few of the wholesome innocent fruits escape their depredations. The Indians, however, have a great veneration for this plant, and at certain seasons of the year come in great numbers to fetch away the leaves. On such occasions their usual custom, says Miller, is to make a fire upon the ground, and, putting on it a great kettle full of water, they throw in a large quantity of yapon leaves; and when the water has boiled sufficiently, they drink large draughts of the decoction out of the kettle; which seldom fails to vomit them very severely. In this manner, however, they continue drinking and vomiting for three days together, until they imagine themselves sufficiently cleansed; they then gather every one a bundle of the shrub, and carry it home with them.—In the operation of these leaves by vomiting, those who have tasted of them say, that there is no uneasy sensation or pain. The matter discharged comes away in a full stream by the mouth, without any violence, or so much as disposing the patient to reach, or decline his head. The Spaniards who live near the gold mines of Peru, are frequently obliged to drink an infusion of this herb in order to moisten their breasts; without which they are liable to a sort of suffocation, from the strong metallic exhalations that are continually proceeding from the mines. In Paraguay, the Jesuits make a great revenue by importing the leaves of this plant into many countries under the name of Paraguay or South-sea tea, which is there drunk in the same manner as that of China or Japan is with us. It is with difficulty preserved in England.