CHAPTER XXIV. 
WEST INDIES, ETC. 
THE Greenheart tree, Mectandra Rodiai, belonging to 
the natural order Lauracee, is found in Guiana, in the 
north-eastern portion of South America, and is an ex- 
ceedingly valuable tree, yielding timber of perfectly 
straight growth, of from 24 to 50 feet in length, and 
12 to 24 inches square. 
Dr. Rodie detected in the bark of this tree an 
alkaloid called Bebeerine, which is used by the inhabi- 
tants of British Guiana as a remedy for fevers ; and it 
is said, that when used as a substitute for quinine, it does 
not produce the headache and other symptoms found to 
follow the use of that medicine. 
The wood is of a dark greenish or chestnut colour, 
the centre part being often nearly black ; it, however, 
varies slightly, and the darker kinds are considered the 
best in quality. It is clean and straight in the grain, 
very hard and heavy, tough, strong, and elastic. Ina 
transverse section it resembles a cane in being very full 
of minute pores, and the concentric layers are only in 
rare instances distinguishable. 
The heartwood is considered very durable, and is 
generally believed to be proof against the ravages of the 
worm when used for piles, or other purposes under water, 
a property which would greatly enhance its value if it 
could be relied upon; but its immunity under such 
circumstances is thought to be doubtful. 
