230 CALYCIFLOR^. 



one seed usually coming to perfection, from the seeds of two of 

 the cells proving abortive. 



This tree sheds its leaves during the months of March and 

 April ; and, after remaining bare for a few weeks, produces its 

 young leaves with the flowers. It is common in most of the 

 West- India Islands. It receives from the English colonists the 

 name of Birch, from the bark having a resemblance to that of 

 the tree which bears that name in Europe. The French call it 

 Gummier, from the resin it affords ; and the Spaniards Almici- 

 go, or Mastic-tree. All parts abound with a glutinous balsamic 

 juice, of a turpentine odour. It forms, on inspissating, a clear 

 transparent gum-resin, of a dark green colour, resembling gum 

 mastic, of a disagreeable alliaceous smell, soluble in spirits of 

 wine, and capable of being employed, in place of Gum Mastic, 

 as a transparent varnish. It might be given also, in the form 

 of pills, as a substitute for Copaiba and other nauseous balsams, 

 in diseased discharges from the mucous membranes. Jacquin 

 mentions, that the bark of the root is exported to Europe, in 

 place of that of the Simaruba. 



As a timber-tree the Birch is of no value, the wood being 

 white, soft, and brittle. It is therefore only employed as fire- 

 wood. 



2. Bursera simplicifolia. Simple-leaved Bursera, 



Leaves simple cuneato-obovate, racemes axillary, 

 seeds compressed elliptic. 



De Cand. Prod. II. 79. 



HAB. Common on Windsor Park Penn. 



ffL. April, May. 



A tree 15 feet in height, with branches spreading, round, 

 smooth. Leaves entire, obscurely nerved, smooth, coriaceous, 

 dark green above, 2 inches long, and about 1 broad : petiole \ 

 of an inch in length. Racemes axillary, longer than the leaves, 

 simple , peduncle compressed, smooth ; pedicels short. Calyx 

 small, 3-fid ; divisions blunt. Petals white, lanceolate, spread- 

 ing. Stanlens 6: filaments short. Ovary globose : style Q: 

 stigma sub-capitate. Drupe size of a large currant, one-stoned : 

 stone exactly 3-gonal, with the angles sub-alate. 



YIII. Amyris. 



Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx 4-dentate, persis- 

 tent. Petals 4, hypogynous, cuneato-unguiculated, 

 imbricated during aestivation. Stamens 8, shorter 

 than the petals. Ovary placed on the incrassated 

 disk-shaped torus, 1 -celled. Stigma sessile. Drupe 

 with the nut chartaceous, 1 -seeded. 



