478 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Israelites who used them as incense on their altars. The oils derived from 

 these plants are excellent antiseptics. 



Cinnamomum contains a volatile oil camphorin which is found in the roots 

 and leaves ; eugenol occurs in the leaves, stems and bark. Clove bark is derived 

 from a small Brazilian tree (Dicypellium caryophyllatum} belonging to this 

 family. The alligator pear or avocado (Persea gratissima}, a native of the 

 West Indies and tropical America, is much esteemed as a dessert fruit and in 

 making salads. Rolfs has written of its successful culture in Florida. It is 

 said that the oil is used extensively in America in soap manufacture. Leaves 

 of laurel (Latirus canariensis) , native to Canary and Medeira Islands, and bay 

 (L. nobilis') of southern Europe are used in culinary processes. Nectandra 

 Rodioei contains berberin, which is identical with the pelosin C lg H 01 NO 3 of 

 Cissampelos Pancina. The Indian laurel contains laurotetanin C 19 H 03 NO 5 . 

 The California laurel (Umbellularia californica') is a strong local anaesthetic 

 said to be irritant and acrid. The leaves, according to the Indians, will drive 

 flies away. 



Sassafras Nees 



Trees with spicy aromatic bark ; small mucilaginous twigs and foliage ; 

 flowers greenish yellow, naked in racemes; calyx 6-parted spreading, sterile, 

 with 9 stamens, 3 inner with pair of glands; fertile flowers with rudiments of 

 stamens; ovoid blue drupes. 



Fig. 249. Sassafras (Sassafras varii folium). A well 

 Tcnown tree of the south which furnishes the sassafras 

 oil and bark of commerce. (W. S. Dudgeon). 



