PLANTS. * 31 



white and silky, come forth in panicles Found in Cey- 

 lon, where the groves of cinnamon trees are said to be a 

 mile in length ; also in Martinique and Mauritius, whence 

 they have been transplanted into South America ; the 

 latter is said to produce the best variety of this popular 

 spice. Grows to a height of twenty feet ; bark is gray 

 on the outside, yellowish-red within ; fruit, berries of an 

 oblong shape. The odor of the cinnamon is uncommonly 

 strong, and highly aromatic ; taste, pleasantly spicy, but 

 not so pungent as that of the Chinese variety. The tree 

 which produces the latter is nearly related to the cinna- 

 mon tree of Ceylon, but more spreading, and the bark 

 coarser and more biting, is less esteemed, and conse- 

 quently much cheaper, h. 



The Camphor Tree (Laurus camphora). A very 

 ornamental tree, resembling the linden ; grows in China, 

 Japan, and Cochin China. The leaves ovate-oblong, in- 

 terruptedly pinnate and B-ribbed, are green and reddish ; 

 flowers small and white, are arranged in panicles or 

 tufts, each composed of two dozen ; fruit, dark-red ber- 

 ries, about the size of peas. Every part of the tree, 

 especially the. root, smells and tastes of camphor. The 

 well known gum of the. shops is obtained, first, by boil- 

 ing the leaves, etc., afterwards by distillation, and lastly 

 evaporation. $ .* 



The next in order is Myristacete. 



The Nutmeg Tree (Myristica moschata), plate 27, fig. 



* fever Bush, Spice Wood, Laurus Benzoin, Sassafras (S. officin 

 ale), belong to the Lauracese. All the species are, throughout, per- 

 vaded by a warm and stimulant aromatic oil. Cassia bark is obtained 

 from Cinnamonum Aromatica of China. Persea Gratissima, a tree 

 of West Indies, yields a delicious fruit called the Avocoda Pear 

 Wood.Tr 



