AMYRIDACE^E. 



171 



eight, with elevated warts between them. Ovary single, supporting a short, obtuse style. 

 Drupe ovate, acute, with four sutures. 1 — 2-celled. Cells 1 -seeded. 



This genus was formed by Kunth from certain species of Amyris, having 

 the germen superior, and not inferior, and has been adopted by many bota- 

 nists, but is not recognised by others, among whom is De Candolle. 



1. B. Myrrha, Nees. — Stem shrubby. Branches squarrose, spinose. Leaves ternate. 

 Leaflets obovate, obtuse, somewhat dentate at apex. Fruit acuminate. 



Nees, Besch. Offic. Planz. liv. 17 ; Royle, Mat. Med. 335 ; Protium Ka- 

 taf, Lindley, Flor. Med. 170. 



Description. — A small shrubby tree, with spiny branches, having a pale gray or whitish- 

 gray bark, with an 



aromatic smell. The Fig. 94. 



leaves ternate on short 

 petioles. The flowers 

 are unknown. The 

 fruit is ovate, brown, 

 smooth, a little larger 

 than a pea, attached 

 to the persistent calyx, 

 and supported on a 

 very short peduncle. 

 It is a native of Ara- 

 bia, where it is said to 

 be abundant. It fur. 

 nishes a gum-resin, 

 which is one of the 

 varieties of Myrrh. 



The history of 

 Myrrh is involved 

 in great obscurity, 

 and notwithstand- 

 ing the recent dis- 

 coveries and investigations on the subject, much remains to be known 

 respecting it. It derives its name from Myrrha, the daughter of Cyniras, and 

 who is said by the poets to have been changed into a tree, after having given 

 birth to Adonis. An article under this name was known very early in the 

 history of the world, and is always alluded to as exceedingly precious, and 

 possessing an exquisite perfume and great virtues. Dioscorides speaks of 

 eight kinds of it, and Pliny of seven, proving that several distinct substances 

 were included in one common name. They state that it is derived principally 

 from the country of the Troglodytes on the Red Sea, whilst Herodotus and 

 Diodorus state that the trees which produce it are in vast abundance in Ara- 

 bia. The first definite account of its origin is given by Theophrastus, who 

 says that it is derived from a shrub with spiny branches, and leaves resem- 

 bling those of the olive, agreeing in this with the more recent accounts. 



Linnaeus was of opinion that it was an animal product, and that it was 

 caused by insects. By Bruce it was considered as derived from a species of 

 Mimosa,- Loureiro states that it was furnished by a Lauras found in Cochin- 

 China, and Forskal by a species of Amyris, which he calls A. kataf ; finally, 

 Ehrenberg and Hemprich discovered a plant in Arabia, exuding Myrrh, which 

 proved to be very analogous to that described by Forskal, and is even consi- 

 dered by Lindley to be identical with it ; but, according to Dr. Royle, differs 



■ B. myrrha. 

 1, 2, 3. B. kataf. 



