

59 BALSAMODENDRUM OPOBALSAMUM 



tree grows in the interior of the latter country. It is not now 

 known to occur in Palestine, and the famous trees of antiquity men- 

 tioned in the Scriptures and by old writers may probably have 

 been cultivated there. 



From want of satisfactory and complete specimens the species 

 of this genus are in considerable confusion. We agree with 

 Professor Oliver in combining B. Ehrenbergianum with the 

 present species; indeed they appear identical. Both Berg and 

 Schweinfurth, however, consider the plants distinct ; and the 

 name was bestowed by Berg on the specimens from Ghizan, 

 above noticed, which the collector labelled as certainly the source 

 of myrrh. These were in fruit only. Schweinfurth says that 

 B. Ehrenbergianum is confined to Asia. 



As understood here there is very little variability in the species, 

 the greater or less pubescence of the usually glabrous leaves, and 

 the occasional production of an extra pair of leaflets being the 

 chief. The flowers appear with the young leaves in February and 

 March, and the fruit is ripe in May and June, by which time the 

 branches are not unfrequently leafless. 



In the above description of the fruit and seed we have followed 

 the view commonly held as to the signification of the different 

 parts. The pulpy layer within the epicarp which seems to have 

 escaped the notice of previous describers of the plant has a 

 remarkable form, and might be readily taken to be an arillus, 

 were it not for the remains of the second abortive pyrene. 



Little or nothing more is known at present (May, 1876) of 

 B. Myrrha, Nees, than the poor figure in Nees, t. 357 (a portion 

 of which is reproduced in Pharm. Journ., 1873, p. 822). This 

 also was collected as a myrrh-producing shrub at Ghizan by 

 Ehrenberg in 1820 6. It is said not to be found on the African 

 side of the Red Sea. So far as the description and figure enable 

 us to judge, it must be a very close ally of the Indian B. Berry*, 

 Arn. (Protium gileadcnse, W. & A.), if not the same as that, 

 species. 



Prof. Baillon adopts the name Balsamea, Gleditsch, for this 

 genus, the date of which is ] 782 (Berlin Gesellsch. Naturforsch. 



