374 LXII. LAUKINE^. [Oinnamomum. 



1. OINNAMOMUM, Burman. 



Evergreen trees or shrubs, bark and leaves more or less aromatic. 

 Leaves opposite or alternate, 3-nerved or penniveined. Flowers in ax- 

 illary or terminal panicles, often unisexual. Segments of perianth. 6 

 (sometimes more by the transformation of the outer stamens). Stamens 

 biseriate, the outer series consisting of 6 perfect stamens, with introrse 4- 

 ceUed anthers, each cell opening by a valve, the inner series of 3 perfect 

 stamens with twin glands at their base, and extrorse sometimes 2-ceUed 

 anthers, and 3 short staminodia, alternating with the stamens. Ovary 

 free; style filiform, terminating in an obtuse, discoid, often oblique, some- 

 times 3-dentate stigma. Fruit a 1-seeded berry, supported and surrounded 

 at the foot by the persistent base of the truncate or 6-toothed perianth. 



Leaves opposite or subopposite, 3-nerved ; persistent base of 



perianth 6-dentate (Section Malabathrwm) . . .1.0. Tamala. 



Leaves alternate, penniveined ; persistent base of perianth. 



truncate (Section Camphora) 2. G. glamdviiferum. 



1. C. Tamala, Nees ; DC. Prodr. xv. i. 17. — Syn. G. alUflonim, ]!7ees ; 

 Wight Ic. t. 140. Laurus Tamala, Hamilton ; L.fGassia, Eoxb. Fl. Ind. 

 ii. 297 (not of Willd.) Vern. Ddleluni, Pb., N.W.P. ; Kirhiria, Ultra, 

 sinkami, dllcauti, N.W.P. * 



A handsome, moderate-sized tree ; young twigs 4-sided, greenish grey, 

 glabrous, smooth. Leaves subcoriaceous, opposite or subopposite, rarely 

 alternate, eUiptic-oblong, from an acute base acuminate, 3-6 in. long, 

 glabrous, shining, the midrib dividing some distance (up to \ in.) above 

 the base into 3 longitudinal nerves, joined by distinct reticulate veins. 

 Flowers whitish, numerous, in axillary and terminal pubescent panicles, 

 pedicels as long as calyx. Calyx silky-pubescent, lobes membranous, 

 with 3-7 distinct longitudinal nerves, ovate-oblong, obtuse, separating in a 

 transverse line above the base, but below the middle, and falling off after 

 flowering. Berry black when ripe, succulent, ovoid, ^ in. long, sup- 

 ported by the 5-lobed somewhat thickened base, of the calyx. 



Himalaya from 3000 to 7800 ft., common east of the Sutlej, extending 

 sparingly to near the Indus. Kaaia hills, SUhet, Tipperah, Burma, also in 

 Queensland (Australia). Generally in shady, moist glens, not gregarious, but 

 scattered in mixed forests. The leaves are renewed in May, and at that period 

 the tree is conspicuous by the delicate pink colour of the young foliage. Fl. 

 Feb., March, often on to April, May ; the fruit ripens June-Oct., frequently re- 

 maining on the tree for months. Growth probably slow. 



Attains 40 ft., with a straight trunk 4-5 ft. girth, bark compact, aromatic, 

 brown or with a yellow tinge, with numerous whitish specks and blotches, 

 ^vrinkled but not marked by cracks, fissures or furrows. The leaves have a fine 

 aromatic smell and taste, stronger when dry. Wood hght-brown, mottled, even- 

 grained, with a glossy surface. The bark, especially that of the root, is used 

 medicinally, and exported to the plains as tajkalm,i, tajhalam, but under this 

 name the bark of other sp. of Cinnamomum also is sold. The leaves also 



