236 



BARKS 



CANELLA BARK 



(Wild Cinnamon Bark, Cortex Canellae) 



Source, &C. Canella bark is obtained from Canella alba, Murray 

 (N.O. Canellacece) , a small tree distributed over the West Indian 

 Islands and found also in Florida. With this tree the Spaniards 

 became acquainted when they discovered America, and thinking, 

 from its aromatic bark, that it was a kind of 

 cinnamon (which was known to them as a valuable 

 Asiatic spice) they brought it to Europe, where it 

 received the name of white cinnamon or ' canella 

 alba. 5 It is now used by the negroes as a 

 condiment. 



The bark of the tree is covered with a thick layer 

 of ash-grey cork ; by gentle beating, this layer of 

 cork is detached, and the remainder of the bark, 

 which has been at the same time loosened, can 

 then be stripped off and dried. It is exported 

 chiefly from the Bahamas. 



Description. Canella bark occurs in channelled 

 pieces and single quills of very varying size, 

 evidently obtained from small trunks and from 

 large and small branches. The quills vary in 

 diameter from 5 to 25 mm. or more ; channelled 

 pieces may be as much as 50 mm. broad and 

 5 mm. thick. Much of the bark shows evidence, 

 in the shape of irregular longitudinal fractures, 

 of the beating to which it has been subjected. 

 The outer surface is of a bright pale reddish or 

 yellowish buff colour, very hard and granular, and 

 usually marked at somewhat distant intervals with 

 circular, crateriform scars or with whitish spots, as well as with 

 numerous shallow, transverse or longitudinal depressions. The inner 

 surface is paler, and finely striated longitudinally. 



The fracture is very short and granular. The smoothed transverse 

 section exhibits under the lens a narrow, irregular, translucent, 

 brown outer layer (phelloderm of sclerenchymatous cells), a paler 

 cortex in which numerous brown oil-cells can be seen, and, in the 

 bast, white wavy medullary rays. 



The odour is agreeably spicy, recalling cinnamon ; the taste pungent 

 and bitter. 



The student should observe 



(a) The hard buff outer surface with its characteristic scars 

 or spots. 



FIG. 117. Canella 

 bark. Natural* 

 size. 



