11. THE SOURCE OF MANILA ELEMI. 



By Elmer D. Merrill, Botanist. 



Manila Elemi has been known in commerce for many 3'ears, and 

 especially in Europe, is considerably used in the practice of medi- 

 cine, yet its source has previously never been definitely determined, 

 although the fact has been known for some years that it is secured 

 from a species of Canarium, growing in the Philippines, closely 

 related to Canarium commune Linn. Recently much material has 

 been received in this office, consisting of botanical specimens in 

 fruit and flower, and also samples of "brea," as Manila Elemi is 

 locally known, from the same trees from which the botanical 

 material Avas secured. The specimens of Manila Elemi have been 

 secured chiefly through tlie efforts of Dr. H. K. Whitford of this 

 office and Mr. W. W. Clark and Mr. W. Klemme of the Forestry 

 Bureau. At the present time Dr. A. M. Clover of this Bureau, in 

 connection with his work on gums, oils, and resins, is making an 

 exhaustive chemical investigation of the various kinds of 'Torea," 

 as Manila Elemi is locally kno-wn, and from his investigations of the 

 material recently secured and a careful examination of the corre- 

 sponding botanical material in this office, we are able definitely to 

 determine the source of this interesting product. 



Trimen and Bently,^ after a thorough discussion of the source 

 of Manila Elemi, conclude that it is secured from a species of Cana- 

 rium, closely related to Canarium commune Linn. The product 

 is discussed by these authors under Canarium commune, a figure of 

 this species being given, as well as one drawn from fragmentary 

 nuiterial supplied by ]\Ir. H. Kicketts, then British consul at 

 Manila, which was supposed to represent the species yielding Manila 

 Elemi of commerce. From the material and data at hand, includ- 

 ing the specimens and information supplied by Mr. "Ricketts, as well 

 as drawings and notes whicli were made by Camell more than two 

 hundred years ago and still preserved in the British Musemn, they 



^ Medicinal Plants, 1 : pi. 61, 1880. 



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