SPERMATOPHYTA— ANONACEAE 



477 



Poisonous properties. While the papaw is edible, there are some cases of 

 poisoning on record. Care should therefore be exercised in its use. The leaves 

 contain alkaloids. The papaw (Polyalthia argentea) contains asimin, a taste- 

 less amorphous alkaloid. 



Lauraceae 



Aromatic trees and shrubs with alternate or rarely opposite leaves without 

 stipules; flowers small, fragrant, polygamous, dioecious or monoecious; calyx 

 4-6 parted ; corolla absent ; stamens in 3 or 4 series on the calyx, some imperfect ; 

 fruit a 1-seeded berry or drupe; endosperm none. About 1000 species, mostly 

 tropical. 



The spice-bush (Bensoin aestivale) produces fragrant flowers and aromatic 

 leaves. Camphor C^^U^fi is obtained from Cinnamon Camphora which comes 

 from the islands of Formosa and Japan ; cinnamon, a well known spice, comes 

 from C. seylanicum, which is extensively cultivated in Ceylon ; cassia is from C. 

 Cassia. Cassia and cinnamon were well known to the ancient especially to the 



Fig. 248. Cinnamon Tree (Cinnamomum seylanicum). Flow- 

 ering and fruiting branch. The cinnamon of commerce is the 

 bark of this tree. (After Faguet). 



