336 REMARKS ON LAURUS CASSIA. 
On the Laurus Cassia of Linneus, and the plants producing —— 
the Cassia Bark of Commerce. v 
The next point on which I have some remarks to offer is 
the Laurus Cassia of Linnzus, and the plants producing the. 
Cassia Lignea or Cassia Bark of commerce. My attention 
was first directed to this subject by a communication from - 
Government, in which I am requested to endeavour to ascer- — 
tain “whether the common Cassia bark of the markets is 4 
thicker and coarser portion of the bark of the genuine Cinna- 
mon plant or tree, or whether it is the bark of a plant not - 
analogous to the Cinnamon plant or tree.” es 
Before it was possible to return a satisfactory answer to this E 
question, it seemed incumbent on me to ascertain what plant 
Linnzus meant to designate under the appellation of Laurus 
Cassia, and whether it was probable the plant so called could 
supply all the bark passing under the name in the markets of 
the world. This primary, but most difficult inquiry was ren- 
dered indispensable by the, generally supposed ridiculous, 
assertion of Mr Marshall, that the leaves, and the bark of the 
trunk and branches of the Laurus Cassia of Linnzus, 50 far 
from being aromatic and spicy like cinnamon, are bitter a" 
have in a slight degree the taste and odour of myrrh. This 
assertion, wide as it may appear of the truth, is yet founded in 
fact, and what may appearstill more extraordinary, it has elie!" 
a discovery, which, without such aid as he has given would not 
probably have soon been made by a professed botanist, alle 
- to which I believe Mr Marshall does not aspire. APP 
to have been led, simply through the native name, to«the ! i 
ference that the Laurus Cassia of Linnzeus does not produce 
aromatic bark, and wonders how it could have received. vieni 
