470 ODOEOGRAPHIA. 



X. frntesccns, Aublet, Hist, des plantes de la Guiaiie Franc^aise, 

 i., p. 262, t. 292 ; Lam., 111., t. 495 ; Duiial, Monogmphie de la 

 famille des Anonacees, p. 120. Syii. X. sctosa, Poiret, Diction- 

 naire de Botanique, viii., p. 812. A shrub of 6 feet in height, 

 native of Brazil and Guiana. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate 

 acuminated, their under surface silky. Peduncles 1 to 3, very 

 short. Carpels smooth. The leaves and wood are very aromatic. 

 The seeds are full of a very fragrant acrid oil and are used by the 

 negroes in Guiana as a condiment. 



o 



X. glcibra, Lin. spec, 1367 ; Dunal, Mon. Anon., p. 121, t. 19. 

 Plukenett, Almagestum botanicum, p. 395, t. 238, f. 4. A tree of 

 40 feet in height, native of Barbadoes and Jamaica. Leaves 

 oblong-ovate, smooth ; peduncles 1-fiowered, solitary or in pairs ; 

 carpels smooth. The wood, bark and berries of this tree have an 

 agreeable bitter taste, not unlike that of an orange seed. The wild 

 pigeons feed much upon these berries and owe their delicate bitter 

 flavour so peculiar to them, wholly to this part of their food. The 

 bitter quality of this tree is communicated with great facility. A 

 handful of the shavings immersed in water and instantly taken 

 out again, will render it of a very bitter taste. Sugar sent over in 

 hogsheads made of this wood was so bitter, that no person would 

 purchase it. Bedsteads and linen-presses made of it are proof 

 against insects. Carpenters who work the wood, perceive a bitter 

 taste in their mouths and throats. A decoction of the wood is said 

 to act as a tonic. It is called the " bitter wood " of Jamaica. 

 Perhaps, all the species of this genus partake, more or less, of this 

 bitter quality. About 12 species are known. The plants of all the 

 species can be raised from seeds procured from their native 

 countries, but should be sown immediately in a sandy loam and 

 placed in a hot-bed, as they soon lose their vegetative property. 



Ximenia. 



A genus of trees or shrubs, named in honour of Ximenes, a 

 Spanish monk, who published four books on the medicinal plants 

 of New Spain (Plumier, N'ova Plantorum Americanarum Genera, 

 vi., t. 21, D.C., Prodr., i., p. 533). Plants of this genus of Olacacecv 

 are usually armed with spines, and the leaves are alternate, ovate 

 or lanceolate, and exstipulate. The flowers are racemose, usually 



