Roots and Herbs
Exploring Jamaica's plant heritage
Brixton market, London © Alex Monro
Does the belly ache bush cause one, or cure one? How can you get lipstick from a tree? And what's the right way to drink chocolate in Jamaica?
One of the great treasures looked after by the Museum is a collection of about 800 Jamaican plants. The plants were collected and described by a young English doctor called Hans Sloane around 320 years ago between 1687 and 1689.
We've been working with Caribbean people in London to discover more about the plants Sloane collected and how they're used today. We've found out that some are still used in the same ways he described more than 300 years ago. Others seem to have been forgotten. Or have they?
Jamaican plants
Discover how these plants were used in Sloane's time and compare their modern day uses.
The Sloane connection
Why did Sloane collect plants? Read about Sloane's time in Jamaica and about the important plant collection at the Museum.
Glossary
There are links to the glossary on all of the plant pages to help you understand Sloane's terminology.