NAT. ORDER. LOMENTACEiE. 27 



separated, as to be found under the gcrmen ; the corolla consists 

 of five \\\\\Xc petals^ four of which are narrow, equal, lanceolate, 

 and larger than the calyx ; the fifth reflexed, broad, and more than 

 double the size of the others ; the stamens are inclined, and in- 

 i>erted into tlie calyx, bearing elongated, sharp-pointed, sulcated 

 anthers ; the germen is oblong, pedicellated ; the style is short, 

 subulate, crooked, and crowned with a simple stigma ; the 2)eri- 

 carp is of a straw color, club-shaped, somewhat curved and pen- 

 dulous, globular near the top, and terminated by the curved style ; 

 the cell, which forms the curved part, contains a single seed, which 

 is crescent-shaped, and projects from the cell. 



The Peruvian Balsam-tree is a native of South America, in- 

 habiting the warmer regions of that continent, growing on the 

 mountains of Panatalmas, in the forests of Paxaten, Muna, Cuchero, 

 and Puzuzu, and in some of the warm situations near the river 

 Maranon ; flowering from August to September. This tree was 

 first discovered by Mutis, about the year 17S1, who sent a speci- 

 men of it, both in fruit and flower, to the younger Linnaeus. The 

 natives inhabiting the countries where this tree grows, call it 

 Quinquino : they use the bark as perfume. The Peruvian Balsa?n, 

 and the Balsam of Tola, are both the product of this tree : — for- 

 merly, it was supposed that the latter balsam was the product of a 

 different tree from that which yields the former ; but it has been 

 ascertained that both balsams are the product of the Myroxylon 

 Peruiferum. We are also credibly informed that the balsam is pro- 

 cured by incision at the beginning of the spring, when the showers 

 are frequent, short, and gentle : it is collected into bottles, where 

 ft keeps liquid for some years, in which state it is called white 

 liquid balsam. But when the Indians deposite the liquid in mats 

 or calabashes, which is generally done in Carthagena and in the 

 mountains of Tolu, after some time it condenses and hardens into 

 resin, and is then denominated dry white balsam, or balsam of Tolu, 

 by which name it is distinguished in, the druggists' shops. M. Val- 



