442 PITTOSPORACEjE. [Hypogynous Exogens. 



Canellace*:, ( Von Martins, Nov. Gen. et Sp. 3. 163. (1829); Conspectus, No. 300. (1835); Ed. pr. under 

 Gutti/erce, p. lb, Endl. Gen. p. 1029) . This name has been given to a supposed Order of plants represented 

 by Canella alba, a common West Indian aromatic shrub, with evergreen, coriaceous, obovate, alternate, 

 stalked leaves, no stipules, and corymbs of purple flowers. The calyx is leathery, and consists of 3 

 blunt, tough, permanent, concave sepals, which imbricate each other. The petals are 5, twisted in aestiva- 

 tion. Within these stands a tough truncated hypogynous cone, whose upper half, on the outside, bears 

 about 20 linear parallel 2-celled anthers, which open longitudinally and touch each other. Its ovary is 

 ovate, and tapers into a stiff style, whose end is emarginate. According to Botanical writers, the stigma is 

 permanent and 2-lobed, while the ovary is 3-celled, with more ovules than one attached to the central 

 angle. But I can find no such structure ; on the contrary, although the stigma is very slightly emargi- 

 nate, yet the ovary does not offer a trace of even two cells, but is absolutely one-celled, with 2 or 3 half 

 anatropal ovules hanging by long cords from a little below the dome of the cavity. Gartner has figured 

 what purports to be the fruit of this plant, representing it to have 3 cells, of which 2 are abortive, and 

 2 or 3 seeds in the perfect cell, somewhat rostrate, consisting of hard homogeneous albumen, and con- 

 taining a very small curved cylindrical embryo, lying obliquely with the radicle turned towards the 

 rostrum. But this fruit can hardly belong to Canella alba, if it is correctly drawn ; and yet, from the 

 appearance of the calyx in Gartner's figure, and from his having obtained his fruits out of the Banksian 

 collection, one can scarcely doubt that they really do belong to Canella; in which case we may assume 

 that the seed-vessel has been incorrectly observed. Upon this supposition Canella can have nothing to 

 do with Guttifers, from which in fact its alternate leaves and general appearance remove it. Nor can 

 it be possibly associated, as Martius proposes, with Platonia, a Brazilian tree with the look of a Clusia ; 

 neither is it by any means clear that the Canella axillaris of Nees, now called Cinnamodendron, is allied 

 to it. However, as I have had no opportunity of examining the fruit of Canella, or of seeing Cinnamo- 

 dendron, it must be enough to suggest that the plants referred to Canellaceae are much more like Pittos- 

 porum than Clusia, and to refer the question of their real place in the natural system to Botanists who 

 possess the means of studying both in all their detaUs. Canella alba is often called Wild Cinnamon in 

 the West Indies, on account of its warm aromatic fragrant qualities. Its bark yields by distillation a 

 warm aromatic oil, reckoned carminative and stomachic. It is often mixed with oil of cloves in the 

 West Indies. In this country it is principally employed as an aromatic addition either to tonics or pur- 



gatives in debilitated conditions of the digestive organs. Canella bark has also been employed in scurvy. 

 It is exported in considerable quantities from the Bahamas, under the name of White Wood Bark, 

 and is so called in consequence of the whiteness of the trees after they have been stripped. It is only the 

 inner smooth white bark that is exported, the rough outside rind being easily separated by beating. 

 Cinnamodendron axillaie, a Brazilian tree, is also aromatic ; its bark is used with success as a tonic and 

 antiscorbutic ; it is prescribed in low fevers, and is made into gargles in debility of the tonsils. 



GENERA. 



Canella, P. Br. 



Winterania, Linn. 

 ? Cinnamodendron, Endl. 



Numbers. Gen. 2. Sp. 3. 



A. Richard has described Canella in his Flore de Cuba, p. 245. He confirms the 

 above statements as regards the structure of the ovary ; except that he says it 

 contains 6 funiculate ovules attached in pairs to the middle of the wall of the 

 ovary, at the same height. The seed he finds constructed as Gsertner describes it, 

 although that author was wrong about the fruit. Finally, he suggests an affinity 

 with Ternstromiads, in which I am unable to concur. Canella is certainly much 

 nearer Olacads. 



