64 ODOEOGKAPHIA. 



Bay berry is oval, firm, and readily separated into two equal lobes. 

 It has a bitter aromatic taste and an agreeable aromatic odour ; 

 these properties being due to a fragrant volatile oil, nearly 1 per 

 cent., which may be obtained by distillation with water. Its sp. 

 gr. at 15*^ C. is 0-924. From some samples a larger yield of oil 

 has been obtained. The seed also contains a concrete fixed oil of a 

 greenish colour and butyraceous consistence. This may be 

 obtained from either fresh or dried fruits by expression ; so 

 obtained it consists of a mixture of volatile oil and fatty bodies, in 

 the same way as does the expressed oil of nutmeg. 



The leaves also yield from O'S to 2-5 per cent, of a fragrant 

 volatile oil by distillation. Sp. gr. 0'924 at 15^ C. This oil was 

 imperfectly examined by Barbagiia, and the result contributed to 

 the '■' Atti della Societa Toscana di Scienze Xaturali," 1889. 

 According to this observer the greater part of the oil distils off at 

 a temperature between 170^ and 175° C. He is of opinion that a 

 partial decomposition of the oil may take place during distillation. 



Examined by Messrs. Schimmel, the oils of both berries and 

 leaves were found to contain Pinene and Cineol. 



California Bay, known also by a variety of names such as 

 Mountain Laurel, Spice-bush, Balm of Heaven, Sassafras Laurel, 

 Cajeput-tree, Calif ornian Olive, etc, has been described in American 

 botanical language as Oreodaphne Calif or iiica (? Nees) Laurus 

 Californica, Tetrantlurci Ccdefornica and latterly Umbellaria 

 Californica. It is quite distinct from the " Spice bush " described 

 at page 44, which is Laurus Benzoin Lin. 



California Bay is common in mountainous parts of 

 California and the Pacific slope, particularly in the vicinity 

 of ravines and moist shady localities, attaining a height of 

 between 50 and 100 feet in some localities. At the height 

 of 50 feet it will have a trunk 30 inches in diameter, but in 

 southern districts it does not exceed 20 feet in height. It 

 flowers in June. The leaves are dark green, lustrous, four inches 

 long, one inch wide, acuminate and very aromatic, their odour 

 approaching to that of the Bay leaf. Dr. Palmer in the American 

 Journal of Pharmacy, December, 1878, says that " by rubbing the 

 hands and face a short time with the leaves, a very disagreeable 

 headache will be produced, and that the Indians in California 

 have been long aware of the power which this plant has to pro- 



