BOLDO LEAVES. 



THE boldo leaves of commerce are gathered from the shrub 

 or tree, Boldoa fragrans, which belongs to the natural order 

 Monimiaceae. This tree is a native of Chili, found growing luxuri- 

 antly on the hillsides of the central provinces and cultivated in 

 gardens. 



It is a tall, evergreen, dioecious shrub or tree, with verdant foli- 

 age, fifteen to twenty feet high though some authors give the 



Fig. i. -Boldo Leaves. A, lower surface. B, upper surface. Na- 

 tural Size. 



height as only from five to six feet. The flowers are sweet-scented 

 and of a greenish-yellow color. The fruit is small, about the size 

 of a pea, sweet, aromatic and of a yellow color, which the natives 

 used as a relish. It is used though in small quantities on account 

 of the sensation of heat left in the mouth and the almost sickening 

 sweetness of the fruit. 



