DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 161 



our, and firmer in texture. It may also be easily distinguish- 

 ed from that tree, by the curious appearance of its seconda- 

 ry branches, which have a peculiar roughness, owing to the 

 bark attaching itself in plates edgewise to the trunk, instead 

 of laterally, as in the usual manner. The fruit is globular, 

 somewhat resembling that of the buttonwood, but much 

 rougher, and bristling with points. The male and female 

 catkins appear on different branches of the same tree, early 

 in the spring. 



This tree grows in great perfection in the forests of New 

 Spain. It was first described by a Spanish naturalist. Dr. 

 Hernandez, who observed that a frasfrant and transparent 

 gum issued from its trunk in that country, to which, from its 

 appearance, he gave the name of liquid amber : this is now 

 the common name of the tree in Europe ; and the gum is at 

 present an article of export from Mexico, being chiefly val- 

 ued in medicine as a styptic, and for its healing and bal- 

 samic properties. " This substance, which in the shops is 

 sometimes called the white balsam of Peru, or liquid storax, 

 is, when it first issues from the tree, perfectly liquid and 

 clear, white, with a slight tinge of yellow, quite balsamic ; 

 and having: a most acrreeable fragrance, resembling that of 

 ambergris or styrax. It is stimulant and aromatic, and has 

 long been used in France as a perfume, especially for gloves."* 

 In the middle states a fragrant substance sometimes exudes 

 from the leaves, and by incision small quantities of the gum 

 may be procured from the trunk ; but a warmer climate ap- 

 pears to be necessary to its production in considerable quan- 

 tities. 



We hardly know a more beautiful tree than the Liquid- 

 ambar in every stage of its growth, and during every season 



* Aboretum Brit. 2051. 



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