SASSAFRAS TREE, 148 
The genus of trees and shrubs known by the 
name of Laurus comprises many of the most use- 
ful as well as celebrated products of the vegeta- 
ble world. The Bay tree or Laurel of the an- 
cients, the Cinnamon tree, Cassia tree, Camphor 
tree, and Avocado pear, are either of them sufii- 
cient to give notoriety to the genus to which they 
belong. This genus has a calyx of from four to 
six divisions ; nectary of three bisetose glands, or 
wanting ; stamens variable in number ; fruit a 
drupe ; flowers often polygamous. The species 
Sassafras is polygamous, with leaves entire and 
lobed. 
The Laurels constitute one of the few genera 
assigned by Linnzus to his class Enneandria, to 
the first order of which they belong. Jussieu 
has placed them with his Lauri, to which they 
give name. The propriety with which they haye 
been associated with the Linnzan natural order 
Oleracew is of a very questionable nature. 
The Sassafras tree, of the United State, ar- 
riyes, in favourable situations, to a tall stature and 
large circumference. In the Northern States, it 
is of smaller size, yet trees are sometimes met 
with about Boston which attain to nearly the 
average height of the woods around them, and 
have trunks a foot in thickness. The bark of the 
