48 ODOROGRAPHIA. 



very aromatic and approaching that of Ceylon cinnamon, its taste 

 is hot and bitter, differing much with that of cinnamon and 

 approaching that of a mixture of cloves and cinnamon. The 

 essential odorous constituent was found by Meyer and Yon Eeiche 

 (who studied this bark under the direction of Wohler) to be a 

 volatile oil, amounting to about 0*94 per cent. According to these 

 observers, the oil is composed of four distinct oils ; the first is 

 identical with engenol; the second is closely allied to the 

 principal constituent of oil of cajuput, and the other two oils 

 requiring further investigation.* On distilling 20 lbs. of bark, 

 Fllickiger and Hanbury obtained 074 per cent, of oil, which, on 

 being distilled with caustic potash in excess, was found to consist 

 of two parts of an oxygenated body and one part of neutral 

 hydrocarbon of an odour resembling that of a mixture of mint and 

 cajuput. Messrs. Schimmel have obtained 1 per cent, of oil from 

 this bark ; its sp. gr. at 15^0. being 0*922, and it was found to 

 contain engenol and cineol. Canella also contains 8 per cent, of 

 mannite, gum-resin, starch and a bitter principle. Canella has 

 sometimes been known under the following names : " Costus 

 corticosus," " Costus dulcis," " Cassia alba," " Cassia lignea 

 Jamaicensis " and " Jamaica Winter's bark," but as it is quite 

 free from tannic and gallic acids, it is readily distinguished from 

 " Winter's bark " by giving no reaction with ferric salts. By the 

 addition of potash to a cold aqueous infusion of true Winter's bark, 

 a dark, somewhat violet, colour is also produced ; whereas an 

 infusion of Canella alba bark is but slightly altered under the 

 same circumstances. 



Canella axillaris, Martins (Syn. Cinnamodendroii 

 axillare), native of Brazil, yields a bark having the same 

 properties as Canella alba. It is a tree of about 20 feet in height, 

 with a white, smooth bark, cracking transversely. The leaves are 

 elliptic, alternate, obtuse, quite entire, smooth and leathery, paler 

 beneath, coriaceous. The flowers are axillary, nodding, decandrous, 

 and have 3 bracts. The calyx consists of 3 rounded lobes. The 

 flowers have 5 (rarely 4) sepals, with as many petals, which are 

 sessile, ovate-orbicular. Crown of o obovate, ciliated segments, 

 alternating with the petals. Tube short, girding the germen, 

 bearing 10 sessile anthers. Anthers 2-celled. Ovary ovate.f 



* Graelin Chemistry, xiv., p. 210 



+ Nees and Von Martins in Nova Acta physico-medica, &c., xii., p. 18. 



