CINNAMON TREE. 123 



its astringent quality, it likewise corroborates the viscera, and proves 

 of great service in several kinds of alvine fluxes, and immoderate 

 discharge.* from the uterus. The aromatic principle is an essential 

 oil, which is obtained by distilling at once large quantities of this 

 spice, or rather cassia, which is usually employed in these operations; 

 and the oil thus separated is so extremely pungent, that on being 

 applied to the skin it produces an eschar. 



We have already observed that the cinnamon is one species of 

 the laurus or bay-tree: and before we close the article we will 

 remark, that there are few genera of plants that contain so many 

 excellent, useful, and ornamental species. The whole number, 

 indeed, amount to not less than thirty-four, all natives of warm 

 climates; but the following are sufficient to justify our assertion. 



1. Sweet bay. L. nobilis. Leaves lanceolate, veined, perennial ; 

 flowers four-cleft, dicecous. There are four or five varieties from a 

 difference of the leaf, which is broad, striped, narrow, or wavy. 



2. Cinnamon- tree. L. Cinuamomum. Leaves three-nerved, 

 ovate, oblong ; the nerves disappearing towards the tip. The tree 

 is covered with a smooth bark ; the flowers are panicled. The liber 

 or inner bark of the branches constitutes the cinnamon of the shops. 

 The trunk of the tree grows to the height of twenty or thirty feet. 

 It is a native of Ceylon. 



3. Wild cinnamon. Cassia lignea tree. L. Cassia. Leaves 

 triply nerved, lanceolate. Its fruit is the cassia lignea of the dispen- 

 satories. It is a native of Malabar. 



4. Camphor tree. L. Camphora. Leaves triply-nerved ; lance- 

 ovate, whitish underneath ; flowers on long peduncles, white, and 

 consisting of six petals, each producing a shining purple berry of the 

 size of a pear, but top-shaped. It is a native of the woods of 

 Japan, and exudes an inspissated resinous secretion, which is the 

 camphor of the shops. 



5. Alligator pear-tree. L. Persea. Leaves ovate, coriaceous, 

 transversely veined, perennial ; flower corymbed, of a dirty white 

 or yellow colour, with an agreeable odour, diffusing itself to a con- 

 siderable distance. The branches of this tree are soft and succu- 

 lent ; its fruit is of the size and shape of a large pear, and has a de- 

 licious and grateful flavour. It is a native of the West Indies. 



6. Benjamin-tree. L. Benzoin. Leaves nerveless, ovate, acute 

 at both ends, entire, annual, veined underneath ; stamens from six 



