PIMENTO. 51 



obsoletely netted, smooth ; the axils of the costal veins without 

 pores. Flowers in clustered, few-flowered, rough, hoary racemes 

 below the axillary and terminal bud. Calyx of fruit nearly 

 globose. 



Oreodaphne Californica. (See " California Bay"). 



The odour of Cinnamon is noticeable in the aromatic, 

 exstipulate leaA^s of a tree named Cinnamosma, native of 

 Madagascar, and the only representative of this genus of 

 Magnoliacece yet known. The small flowers which form in the axils 

 of the leaves are invested by numerous over-lapping bracts ; they 

 have a calyx of three sepals, and what is very peculiar, a 

 gamopetalous corolla, which increases in length with the age of 

 the flower, and is divided above into 5 lobes. The ovary is 

 1 -celled, with 3 parietal placentas. 



The dried leaves of Comptonia asplenifolia (Syn. Myrica 

 asplenifolia), or " Sweet Fern bush," yield 0-08 per cent, of a 

 volatile oil with a strong spicy cinnamon-like odour ; its sp. gr. is 

 €•926 at 15° C. When placed in a freezing mixture this oil 

 becomes solid (Schimmel). The Comptonia is a deciduous bushy 

 shrub, about three feet in height, belonging to the order Myricaceae, 

 bearing both male and female flowers in catkins and on the same 

 plant. It is a native of Xorth America, in most peaty soils. The 

 leaves are long and narrow, alternately arranged and cut on each 

 side into rounded and numerous lobes, so as to resemble the fronds 

 of Ceterach ; they are downy and sprinkled with golden resinous 

 dots, which as well as the rest of the plant, have an aromatic 

 scent. It is hardy, but requires a peat soil and shade. 



An odour which may be allied with that of cinnamon and 

 cassia is that oi Furfur ol, Cg H^ 0^, the aldehyde of Pyromucic 

 acid. (See " Empyreumatic oils "). 



Pimento. 



This aromatic, whose odour and flavour are considered to 

 resemble a mixture of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, is for that 

 reason commonly known as " Allspice." It consists of the dried, 

 unripe berries of Eugenia Pimenta I). C. (Prodr. iii. 285), Syn. 

 Myrtus Fimenta Lin. (sp. PL 276), Pimenta vulgaris Wight & 

 Arnott and Pimenta officinalis Lindley. 



