610 ORD. XXXVII. Dumose. copairrRA OFFICINALIS. 
.THIS tree grows to a considerable height: it is covered with 
rough brown bark, and divides into numerous branches: the leaves 
are sincatek large, consisting of four pair of pinne, which are 
alternate, except the undermost, which is nearly opposite; they 
are ovate, pointed, somewhat narrowed on one side, and placed 
upon short footstalks: the flowers are white, and produced in 
terminal branched spikes: there is no calyx: the petals are four, 
oblong, acute, concave, spreading: the filaments are ten, slender, 
incurved, somewhat longer than the corolla, and crowned with 
antherze, which are oblong, and incumbent: the germen is roundish, 
compressed, and stands upon a short pedicle: the style is filiform, 
incurved, about the length of the filaments, and furnished with an 
obtuse stigma: the fruit is an oval pod, of two valves, pointed 
with part of the remaining style: it contains one egg-shaped seed, 
involved in a berried arillus. 
This tall and elegant tree is a native of South America, par- 
ticularly Brazil, and some of the neighbouring islands; and it is 
said to have been discovered growing in Terra Firma in large 
woods with those trees which afford several of our officinal Balsams, 
especially that of ToW—ad—Pere-— The resinous juice, called 
Balsam of Copaiba, is obtained from this tree by making incisions 
near the base of its trunk, extending not only Through the bark, 
but into the substance of the wood, when the balsam immediately 
issues, and at the proper season flows in such abundance, that 
sometimes. in three hours twelve pounds have been procured. 
The older trees afford the best balsam, and yield it two or three 
times in the same year. The Balsam supplied by the young and 
vigorous trees, which abound with the most juice, is crude and 
watery, and is therefore accounted Jess valuable. While flowing 
from the tree this balsam is a colourless fluid; in time however 
it acquires a yellowish tinge, and the consistence of oil; but 
though by age it has been found thick like honey, yet it never 
became solid like other resinous fluids. — 
