86 ILEMA.TOXYLON CAMPECHIANUM 



projecting beyond the stamens. Pod membranous, lanceolate, 

 compressed, pointed at both ends, 1- or 2 -seeded, dehiscent not 

 along the sutures but down the centre of each valve, so as to 

 form two boat-shaped pseudo-valves. Seed transversely oblong, 

 flattened, attached by the centre of its inner border ; embryo with 

 two very large cotyledons, each divided into two lobes which are 

 reflected over the sides of the cylindrical radicle ; no endosperm. 

 Habitat. The Logwood inhabits tropical America, especially 

 the shores of the Gulf of Campeachy (whence it gets its 

 specific name), Honduras, and Columbia. It has become perfectly 

 naturalized in the West Indian islands, having been introduced 

 into Jamaica in 1715, as well as in other tropical countries. 

 Miller successfully cultivated it in England in 1739, and it has 

 since been frequently grown here, and may be seen in most botani- 

 cal gardens, though it very rarely flowers. 



DC., Prod., ii, p. 485; Grisebacb, Fl. Br. W. Indies, p. 204; 

 Lindl., Fl. Med., p. 264. 



Official Part and Name. H^IMATOXYLI LIGNUM ; the sliced 

 heart- wood (B. P.). The heart-wood (Hamatoxyli Lignum, Log- 

 wood) (I. P.). HJIMATOXYLON j the heart-wood (U. S. P.). 



Production and Commerce. The logwood tree is usually felled 

 when about ten years old; the bark and sap-wood (alburnum) are 

 then chipped off, after which the red heart-wood (duramen) which 

 remains is cut into logs about three feet long, which are alone 

 exported, and constitute the logwood of commerce. Four kinds 

 of logwood are distinguished in the London market, under the 

 names of Campeachy, Honduras, St. Domingo, and Jamaica, which 

 are arranged in the order of their value. The average imports 

 into the United Kingdom in the years 1870, 1871, 1872, and 

 1873, were about 50,000 tons, representing a money value of 

 above 250,000. 



General Characters and Composition. The logs are dense, 

 tough, and about the specific gravity of 1'057. Externally, by 

 exposure to the air, they acquire a blackish-red colour ; internally 



