138 THALAMIFLOR^E. 



flowers small, seldom found open, of a purple or violet colour. 

 Sepals 3, their edges overlapping, rounded, to the glass puber- 

 ulo-ciliated, externally cinereo-glaucescent, persistent. Petals 

 concave, thick, deciduous. Anthers resembling furrows on the 

 nectary-like tube of the filaments. Ovary globose ; a portion 

 of the style persistent. Berry size of the largest pea ; when 

 ripe, black. Seeds in general only two, dark-brown, globoso- 

 subreniform. Albumen watery. Embryo minute, curved, of 

 a yellow tinge, situated at the rostellum of the seed. 



Although this has received the name of Winter's bark, it is 

 very different from the Wintera aromatica, a native of the 

 shores of Magellan's straits, which yields the true bark of that 

 name. It resembles it, however, in its properties, and admits 

 of being used medicinally as a substitute. It is sold in flat or 

 quilled pieces, is of a yellowish colour, smells like cloves, and 

 is of a warm bitterish pungent taste. Chemical analysis gives 

 a resin, a volatile oil, extractive matter, colouring matter, gum, 

 starch, albumen, acetates of potash and lime, hydrochlorate of 

 potash, hydrochlorate of magnesia, &c. Spirits are the best 

 solvent, as water extracts only the bitter without the aroma. 

 Its effects are carminative, tonic, and stomachic. The dose 

 of the powder is from gr. x, to '^i. It is given in dyspepsia, 

 and atonic diseases, and is snuffed up the nostrils as a cephalic. 

 A warm aromatic oil may be obtained by distillation, resembling, 

 in taste and other properties, that obtained from cloves. 



The whole tree, according to Swartz, is very aromatic, and 

 when in blossom perfumes the whole neighbourhood. The 

 flowers dried and softened again in warm water, have a frag- 

 rant odour, nearly approaching to that of musk. The leaves 

 have a strong clove-like smell. The berries when ripe are 

 greedily sought after by the different varieties of pigeons, 

 which abound in our woods, and gives to their flesh the peculiar 

 flavour for which they are so prized. The Caribs are said to 

 have employed the bark, with the fruit of Capsicum, as a con- 

 diment in their drink and food. 



V. MORONOBEA. 



Calycine sepals 5. Petals 5, coriaceous, twisted 

 during estivation. Stamens monadelphous at the 

 base, 5 -fasciculated above : anthers external, 3 at 

 the middle of each fasciculus, linear. Style 1 ; 

 stigmata 5. Berry 5-celled, with the cells 2-seeded, 

 or fewer from abortion. 



A Genus established by Aublet Name, probably derived, 

 from ,j,o S ov the Mulberry, and o^,c appearance, from the resem- 

 blance of the berry to that fruit. 



