I' CHAPTER XXIV. 



WEST INDIES, ETC. 



THE Greenheart tree, Nectandra Rodicsi, belonging to 

 the natural order Lauracece, is found in Guiana, in the 

 north-eastern portion of South America, and is an ex- 

 ceedingly valuable tree, yielding timber of perfectly 

 straight growth, of from 24 to 50 feet in length, and 

 1 2 to 24 inches square. 



Dr. Rodie detected in the bark of this tree an 

 alkaloid called Bebeerine, which is used by the inhabi- 

 tants of British Guiana as a remedy for fevers ; and it 

 is said, that when used as a substitute for quinine, it does 

 not produce the headache and other symptoms found to 

 follow the use of that medicine. 



The wood is of a dark greenish or chestnut colour, 

 the centre part being often nearly black ; it, however, 

 varies slightly, and the darker kinds are considered the 

 best in quality. It is clean and straight in the grain, 

 very hard and heavy, tough, strong, and elastic. In a 

 transverse section it resembles a cane in being very full 

 of minute pores, and the concentric layers are only in 

 rare instances distinguishable. 



The heartwood is considered very durable, and is 

 generally believed to be proof against the ravages of the 

 worm when used for piles, or other purposes under water, 

 a property which would greatly enhance its value if it 

 could be relied upon ; but its immunity under such 

 circumstances is thought to be doubtful. 



