246 VEGETABLE POISONS, 



SECTION II. 



Cherry Laurel, 

 Primus Lauro-ccrasus. Linn. 



The prunus genus embraces a very extensive family, amounting 

 to not less than thirty one species, natives of Europe, Asia, and 

 America, six of which are indigenous to our own country. To this 

 genus belong the common plum tree, bullace, black-thorn, apricot 

 with all its varieties, common cherry, common laurel, Portuguese 

 laurel. To this also belongs the species before us, which is a shrub 

 or small tree, sending off long spreading branches, and covered with 

 smooth brown bark. Leaves evergreen, elliptical, or obovate, blunt, 

 rather serrated, furnished with yellowish glands at the base, of a 

 shining deep green, placed alternately upon strong short footstalks. 

 Flowers on short peduncles, in spikes, which arise at the alae 

 of the leaves. Calyx tubular, ovate, divided at the brim into five 

 pointed reflexed segments. Corolla composed of five petals, which 

 are small, white, roundish. Filaments about eighteen, tapering, in- 

 serted in the calyx, furnished with simple anlherae. Germen ob- 

 long, supporting a columnar style, terminated by a blunt stigma. 

 Flowers drupous, resembling a small cherry both in its external and 

 internal structure. 



It is a native of the Levant, and appears to have been long culti- 

 vated in Britain, and by its polished evergreen leaves adds much to 

 the beauty of our shrubberies. 



The leaves of the lauro-cerasus have a bitter styptic taste, accom- 

 panied with a flavour resembling that of bitter almonds, or other 

 kernels of the drupaceous fruits. The flowers of this plant also 

 manifest a similar flavour. The powdered leaves, applied to the 

 nostrils, excite sneezing, though not so strongly as tobacco. 



The kernel-like flavour which these leaves impart being generally 

 esteemed grateful, has sometimes caused them to be employed for 

 culinary purposes, and especially in custards, puddings, blanc- 

 mange, &c. and as the proportion of this sapid matter of the leaf 

 to the quantity of the milk is commonly inconsiderable, bad effects 

 have seldom ensued. But as the poisonous quality of this laurel is 



