ORDER LAURINE^:, OR LAUREL TRIBE; NUTMEGS. 491 



mounted by a single style. This order contains, with many 

 shrubby species, some which rank as large trees ; one genus, 

 however, differs from the rest in being leafless and parasitic ; 

 and it is remarkable that this is the only plant of the order 

 which is a native of Africa; Professor Lindley, however, separates 

 it from the Laurineae, and makes of it a distinct order. The Bay 

 laurel was formerly in repute as a medicine ; but it seems to have 

 been yet more esteemed among the ancients, since wreaths formed 

 of it were awarded as victorious crowns, to those who had distin- 

 guished themselves by their courage in war, or by their superiority 

 in learning. It is curious that .the present university degree of 

 Bachelor (of Medicine, Arts, &c.) should take its origin in this 

 circumstance ; the term Bachelor, is merely a corruption of the 

 word Bacca-laureate, which means laurel-berried ; the latter 

 part of the word being also the distinction of the Poet, who is 

 appointed to make verses, on stated occasions, in honour of the 

 sovereigns of Britain. The Laurineae are all aromatic plants, 

 containing in their leaves, bark, &c., a powerful essential oil, 

 which gives them a strong and pleasant odour, and a warm and 

 pleasant taste. The most valuable products of this order are 

 Cinnamon and Camphor. The former is the bark of the younger 

 twigs of several species of Laurel, which grow best in the islands 

 of the Asiatic Archipelago. Cassia bark is inferior to Cinnamon 

 in strength of flavour, but is often passed off for it. Sassafras is 

 another aromatic product of this order ; it is brought from South 

 America. Camphor may be obtained from nearly every species 

 of the tribe, in greater or less proportion ; but it is now found 

 to be more abundantly yielded by trees of other kinds. The 

 Alligator-pear of the West Indies (the first name of which is a 

 corruption of the original name Avocado) is the fruit of a species 

 of Laurel ; it is much esteemed for its rich and agreeable flavour, 

 and seems to be relished not only by Man, but by many kinds of 

 animals. 



668. Several of the Laurineae are dioecious ; and this is con- 

 stantly the case with the Nutmeg tribe, which is nearly allied to 

 them ; in these, neither the stamineous nor the pistilline flowers 

 contain a trace of the deficient organs. The nutmeg is the 



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