Book X, Chapter VI

Of the devil’s snare[1] that is found in this Island of Hispaniola.

Translated by Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert

The plant they call devil’s snare is very common in all these islands and in the Mainland. Among doctors, apothecaries and herbalists, it is called spurge or cataputia major. I do not know what medicinal properties it has, but here it is abundant everywhere; it covers a lot of ground in the countryside and there is no less of it within this city, even in the courtyards of houses.

[1] Most likely Datura stramonium. [EE]

Image: Lithograph of Devil’s snare published in Germany in 1955 in the Mitteleuropäische Pflanzenwelt by Kräuter and Stauden.