Musk UO-R.TUS JA^.fArCENSISt, 5S>- 



aviadi'igonal, shorter than the corolla, and Hghtl^- dented on the margin into sixteen 

 sulj-ovate hicinia, alternately shorter ; the stigma is divided into t'uur parts by tivo cross 

 jiiics; at the base of every peduncle tliere is a very small lanceolated bracte. The 

 structure of the capstile is the same as that oF trickUia ; the seeds are intensely bitter. 



This tree is freqncnt in the midland woods, and grows to a considerable size. All 

 parts of it, but especially the bark, smell strongly of musk, (resembling the smell of 

 an alligator, whence the name,) and may be used instead of that perfume for many 

 purposes. The wood is full of a bitter resinous substance, which renders it inifit for 

 rum puncheons, being observed to communicate both its smell and taste to all spirituous 

 liquors. But it is ot'ten cut for staves and heading for sugar hogsheads, wnen there 

 happens a scarcity of other lumber. The powder of the bark is said to bo a. good erne* 

 tic, and is, I am infcu'med, someiinaes used for that purpose. i)'/'0S77f, 



Some old negro women are extremely fond of perfuming their persons with the 

 powdered bark, which, when dry, retains the odour, till they smell like civet cats. 



There is no doubt but the resinous parts of this tree coatain a volatile odorift- rons oil, 

 and that this, as well as the resin itself, which is soluble in spirits, might be converted 

 to marry useful, and probably medical, purposes. Long^. 



Miisk-lVood. This is vulgarly and commonly called ai'igator-wood. The bark of 

 the tree is thin, of a whitish-brown without and reddish within, and of a most pleasant 

 scent, like musk. If you pnt a small piece of this bark into a pipe of tobacco, and 

 soioak It, it will perfume the room immediately. The wood also smells like musk, as 

 well as the bark ; but as it grows old and dry, its scent wears off. Barham, p. 107, 



arusK-wooD; trfchi lia. 



Cl. 10, OR. 1. Becandriamonogynia. Nat. or. Trihilatte. 

 Sen. char Calyx a one-leafed perianth, mostly five-toothed : corolla five petals ; 

 nectary toothed, cylindrical, bearing the anthers at the top of the teeth ; capsule 

 three-eelledj three- valved ; seeds solitary, berried. Two species are natives of 

 Jamaica. 



1. MOSCIIATA. MUSK. 



LaurusfoVm brcviore, florc raccmoso minor e-^ Sloane, Vi 2, p. 2i, t. 

 166, f. 1. 



Leaves alternately pimiate; racemes axillary; flowers sub-decandrous, one- 

 petaied; capsule^ one-seeded. 

 A tree twenty feet high ; branches sub-dividei], with a smooth striated bark; leaves 

 alternately pinnate, entire, smooth,, glossy, with parallel nerves; racemes axillary, 

 solitarv, upright, luany-fl -wered. striated; ii-iwers numerous, small, of a pale colour, 

 with a short tube, and ovate, sharp, spreading, divisions; nectary uibular, sliorter 

 than the corolla ; nofiiamjiits; antders suo-sessiie ; gt-rm ovate; style siiort, cylindrio; 

 6tigrrt3 obtuse, coriJeri;d; capsule ovate, tnrce-Vdived, single- seeded, Native q *'.';!- 



jnaicij . 



