LIGN-ALOES. 291 
The Mexican species of the genus appear to be very numerous, 
and require further examination as to their economic products. 
GUIANA AND BraAzItiIAN LIGN-ALOE. 
An “ oilof Lign-aloes ” has also been produced in Cayenne from 
another plant belonging to the Burseriacz, viz., the Icica altissima, 
Aublet* (Amyris altissima, Willd.t). The Icica is a genus of 
Amyridacez, or Burseriacez, found chiefly in the tropics of the 
Western hemisphere; only two or three of the twenty species 
occurring in the Eastern. In the forests of Guiana the Icica 
altissima attains a height of 100 feet. The odour of the wood is 
compared to that of rose and citron, and on this account it 1s 
used for the inside fittings of houses, book-cases, etc. There are 
two varieties of the tree, called in the French colony “‘ Cedre 
Blane” and ‘ Cédre rouge.” The wood is also known as “ Bois 
de Rose femelle,” also “ Licari Kanali.” An examination made 
of the oil by Morin in 1881} seems to indicate its identity with 
the main constituent of oil of bergamot, and its close affinity to 
oil of Mexican Lign-aloe above described. When freed from a 
small quantity of water that it usually contains, it has a density 
of 0°868 at 15° C., boils at 198° C. under a pressure of 775 mm., 
and is optically levogyre. Its composition is C,)H,,O, and it is 
soluble in alcohol and ether. (This alcohol and its acetic ester form 
the principal constituents of oil of lavender.) 
The balsam obtained from the trunks of many of the species of 
Icica is highly odoriferous, and is commonly used as a perfume 
in South America. That of J. heptaphylla, Aublet§, a native of 
the woods of Guiana, is called “Varbre dencens.” It is the 
Amyris ambrosiaca of Willdenow||. It is also called Hyawa in 
Guinea. The fruit of this tree contains four stones wrapped up 
in a viscid pulp which has a balsamic smell and taste, hardens 
into a grey resin, and is used to burn as a perfume. The whole 
tree is very sweet scented and exudes a very odorous, clear balsam 
from the wounded trunk or branches which is used in houses and 
churches as incense. This tree is very abundant on the banks of 
the Maroni River, and is also found plentifully along the Itoori- 
* Guian. i. tab. 132. + Spec. ii. p. 336. 
t Comptes Rendus, xcii. p. 998. 
§ Guian. i. p. 387, tab. 180. || Spec. ii. p. 335, 
u2 
