MONIMIACE^. 327 



and stomach ache. They are preferred by the Chilians to bay-leaves 

 for seasoning dishes ; they are also powdered and used as snuff. 

 The fruit is edible, and the perfumed mesocarp is highly prized by 

 the natives. They also eat the fruit of the Kecde {Adenosfemiim 

 nitidum Pers.). Several species of Siparima are also aromatic, but 

 are little used. S. gidanensis, under the name of Vainer care [Ful- 

 nerarij\ is used to prepare an infusion sometimes prescribed at 

 Cayenne.' 8. brasiliensis and alternifolia from Brazil,- S. dentata 

 and piricarpa from Peru, and S. peiiolaris from New Granada, are 

 cited as aromatic species. The name S. T/ica' indicates the pro- 

 perties of a species found in the Brazilian province of St. Catherine. 



The flowers of the CalijcanthefB have well marked perfumes, which 

 in most species of Cali/canthus recall those of certain fruits, such as 

 the aj^ple, pineapple, melon, &c. The bark is also very aromatic. 

 That of C.foridus L. {Carolina Allspice'), is substituted for cinnamon 

 in medicine as a tonic, stimulant, aperient, and stomachic. The bark 

 of the root smells of camphor. This aroma we do not find in the 

 flowers and leaves of ChimonantJtus pracox,^ where it is replaced by a 

 quite peculiar pungent acrid taste. The sweet scent of its expanded 

 flowers in winter is well known. 



The wood of several Monimiacecs is also perfumed, and is therefore 

 prized for building dwelling-houses ; especially in Chili do they use 

 the brownish wood of the Boldii, and the yellow or greenish-white 

 wood of Atlierosperma sernpervirens. A. Novce-Zelandioi and mosehafa 

 serve the same purposes in their native countries. The trunk of the 

 latter attains an enormous size. It is a fine tree, upwards of 

 160 feet in height and 6 feet in diameter, branching like a Pine, and 

 of splendid appearance. Its wood is employed in ship-building. 

 That of the inodorous Monimiacea is only used by the cabinet-maker 

 and for framing. Tambourissa quadrifida is the Bois Tambour or 

 Tamboul of the Mascarene Islands. T. vestita is the Bois Gilet of 

 Bourbon. T. religiosa is used in Madagascar for making cofiins, 

 which are said to preserve the body from putrefaction. It appears 

 that several species of this genus produce an odoriferous gum, or 

 gum resin. The fruits of T. quadrifida and others bear the vulgar 



■ AuBL., Ouian., ii. 865, t. 333. ■* K^mpfek, Jmoen. Exot., 878, t. 871). The 



- Makt., Fl. Brasil., Monimiac, 325. Japanese call this tree Ohcd or Robai. 



^ Seem., Jowrn. of Hot., ii. (1861), 343. 



