MONIMIAGE^. 327 



and stomach aclie. They are preferred by the Chilians to Ijay-leaves 

 for seasoning dishes ; they are also powdered and used as snuff. 

 The fruit is edible, and the perfumed mesocarp is highly prized by 

 the natives. They also eat the fruit of the Km/e {Adenosfemum 

 nitidum Pers.). Several species of Sijjaruna are also aromatic, but 

 are little used. S. giiianensis, under the name of Vulneraire [Ful- 

 nerary\ is used to prepare an infusion sometimes prescribed at 

 Cayenne.' 8. brasiliensis and aUernlfolia from Brazil,- S. dcntafa 

 and piricarpa from Peru, and 8. petiolaris from New Granada, are 

 cited as aromatic species. The name S. Thea? indicates the pro- 

 perties of a species found in tlie Brazilian province of St. Catherine. 



The flowers of the Ca/i/canthecB have well marked perfumes, which 

 in most species of Culycantlms recall those of certain fruits, such as 

 the apple, pineapple, melon, &c. The bark is also very aromatic. 

 That of C. floridus L. {Carolina Allspice), is substituted for cinnamon 

 in medicine as a tonic, stimulant, aperient, and stomachic. The bark 

 of the root smells of camphor. This aroma we do not find in the 

 flowers and leaves of CJdmonantJius pracox* where it is replaced by a 

 quite peculiar j^ungent acrid taste. The sweet scent of its expanded 

 flowers in winter is well known. 



The wood of several Moniuiiacece is also perfumed, and is therefore 

 prized for building dwelling-houses ; especially in Chili do they use 

 the brownish wood of the Boldu, and the yellow or greenish-white 

 wood of Atherospcrma sempervirens. A. Novce-Zelandia and moschata 

 serve the same purposes in their native countries. The trunk of the 

 latter attains an enormous size. It is a fine tree, upwards of 

 160 feet in height and 6 feet in diameter, branching Hke a Pine, and 

 of splendid appearance. Its wood is employed in ship-building. 

 That of the inodorous Monimiacea is only used by the cabinet-maker 

 and for framing. Tambourissa qicadrifida is the Bois Tamhour or 

 Tarnhoul of the Mascarene Islands. T. vestifa is the Bois Gilet of 

 Bourbon. T. relicjiosa is used in Madagascar for making cofiins, 

 w^hich are said to preserve the body from putrefaction. It appears 

 that several species of this genus produce an odoriferous gum, or 

 gum resin. The fruits of T. quadrifda and others bear the vulgar 



' AuBL., Gidan., ii. 865, t. 333. * K^mpfee, Jmaen. Exof., 878, t. 879. The 



^ Makt., Fl. BrasiL, Monimiac, 325. Japanese call this tree Obai or Robai. 



3 Seem., Joum. ./ Bot., ii. (1864), 343. 



