Gervas (Stachytarpheta Jamaicensis), a small verbenaceous shrub of the West Indies and tropical America. It is regarded as of high medicinal value, and was used by the Indian sorcerers as its ally the vervain was in Europe. It has also been introduced into Europe as Brazilian tea, and also frequently employed as an adulterant of tea proper.
Gervas
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 5: Friday to Humanitarians, p. 191
Source scan(s): p. 0202