anonace^e. 101 



This tree is a native of Terra del Fuego and the southern parts of South 

 America. It was discovered in 1579 by Capt. Winter, who commanded a 

 vessel in the squadron under Sir Francis Drake, and from specimens of the 

 bark he brought home, it was described by Clusius (Exot. lib. iv. ch. 4), and 

 named in honour of its discoverer. Some years afterwards the same writer 

 also noticed the Canella alba, but notwithstanding the differences he points 

 out between them, they were confounded together by almost every writer, 

 until Dr. Solander again described it, as well as the tree from which it is de- 

 rived, in the fifth volume of Medical Inquiries and Observations, though Sir 

 Hans Sloane had previously given separate accounts of the two in the Trans- 

 actions of the Royal Society ; even Linnaeus was led into error, and combined 

 them under the name of Laurus Winterana, but afterwards recognised his 

 error, and adopted the genus Drimys of Forster, in which he included the 

 Winter's bark tree and other species. 



The bark is in quills or rolled pieces of some length, of different widths 

 and thickness, of a pale-yellowish, or dull reddish-gray, with darker spots ex- 

 ternally, and of a dark cinnamon colour internally. It has an aromatic 

 smell, especially when bruised, and a warm, pungent, spicy taste, which is 

 very permanent. It has been found to contain resin, volatile oil, tannin, a 

 colouring matter, and several salts. (Henry, Journ. de Pharm. v. 489.) 



Medical Properties, fyc. — This bark is stimulant, aromatic, and tonic, and 

 may be employed in all cases in which the Canella and Cinnamon are indi- 

 cated. It was much praised by the discoverer as an antiscorbutic. Ferrein 

 states that the natives employ it to prevent a cutaneous disease to which they 

 are subject, from eating seal's flesh. It is now but seldom employed, and has 

 become very scarce in commerce. 



There are several other species, as the D. granatensis and D. punctata, 

 which possess similar qualities, and are used in South America as condi- 

 ments. 



Many other species of this order are endowed with marked properties. 

 The whole plant of Illicium anisatum, but especially the fruit, has the aro- 

 matic smell and qualities of the anise, for which the oil of the seeds is often 

 substituted in the fabrication of liqueurs. Those of the /. religiosum are used 

 as incense in the Chinese temples ; our native species, the I. floridanum, has 

 similar properties, and the bark may be used as a substitute for cascarilla. 

 That of the Michelia monta?ia, although less bitter, is possessed of the same 

 remedial powers, whilst that of the M. gracilis contains camphor ; the wood 

 of another species of the same genus, the M. doltsopa, is much esteemed in 

 Nepaul for house-building {Don. Prod. 226). The bark of the Aromaden- 

 dron elegans has great reputation in Java as an antihysteric, carminative, 

 and stomachic, the wood also is valuable for a variety of purposes, and that 

 of the Manglietia glauca, a native of the same island, is highly esteemed 

 for coffins, as it is supposed to prevent any decay of the bodies put in them. 

 The bark described by Cadet (Journ. de Pharm. 1815), under the name of 

 Melambo, as similar to that of the Drimys, was supposed to be derived from 

 a plant of this order, but on insufficient grounds. 



Order 3.— ANON ACEM.— Richard. 



Flowers large, of a dull brown or greenish colour. Calyx of 3 persistent sepals. Co- 

 rolla of 6 petals in two rows, coriaceous, with a valvate aestivation. Stamens numerous, 

 rarely definite, with extrorse anthers. Carpels few or numerous, closely united, some- 

 times cohering, so as to form a fleshy, concrete fruit. Seeds one or more in each carpel, 

 with a brittle testa, attached to the suture ; embryo minute, at the base of a hard, ruminate 

 albumen. 



