5.54 Dr. F R a n c i s Hami lto n -s Commentary 



Cassia, we have added the second species of Plukenet already- 

 mentioned, but without excluding his fourth species, probably 

 the same with the Katou Carua; and Burman's Thes. Zeyl. t. 28. 

 is quoted with doubt, and supposed, notwithstanding his descrip- 

 tion, to be a male plant of the Laurus Cinnamomum. It is how- 

 ever pretty clear that the compiler did not examine the descrip- 

 tion, his attention having been entirely occupied by the figure. 

 After describing the plant, in many respects well, and pointing 

 out some differences between it and the Cinnamon, the compiler 

 endeavours to show that the Cortex caryophylloides of Rum- 

 phius (Herb. Amb. ii. 65. t. 14.), called Laurus Culilaban by 

 Linnaeus, is in reality the same with the L. Cassia. His reasons 

 and arguments, resting on the mistaken notion of Linnaeus re- 

 specting the leaves of the Cinnamon and Cassia being alternate, 

 while those of the Culit lawan are opposite, only show how little 

 was very lately known in Europe concerning these trees and 

 others nearly allied to them. Dr. Roxburgh (Hurt. Beng. 30.) 

 divided the genus Laurus into those having opposite leaves, and 

 those with leaves placed alternately ; and among the former are 

 justly placed the Cinnamon, Cassia and Culit lawan, with five 

 other species ; and Dr. Roxburgh observed from nature. Op- 

 posite leaves is the proper and regular disposition in these three 

 plants, although in the same individuals examples may be often 

 observed of the leaves being subalternate. Rumphius considered 

 his Cortex eanjophylloides as being different from the Cassia lig- 

 nea, the usual name in commerce for the bark of the Laurus 

 Cassia; but I would build little on that supposition, because 

 the Cassia lignea to which he alludes is that of the Philippine 

 islands, probably the same with that of China : but Dr. Rox- 

 burgh had obtained from the Moluccas a species, which he 

 considered as different from both the narrow-leaved Cinnamon 

 and Cassia, and for which he quotes the Cortex caryophylloides of 



Rumphius 





