LAURACEiE. 553 



This small genus was separated by Nees from Laurus, to which, however, 

 it is very closely allied, and should, perhaps, be only considered as a section 

 of it. The flowers are in sessile umbels, appearing before the leaves, which 

 are membranous and deciduous. 



B. odoriferum, Nees. — Leaves ovate, lanceolate, somewhat pubescent beneath ; flowers 

 in clustered umbels ; buds and pedicels glabrous. Fruit bright-red, oval, containing 

 an ovate-pointed nut. 



Nees, Laurin. 497 ; Lindley, Flor. Med. 339 ; Laurus benzoin, Linn., 

 Sp.Pl. 530; Barton, Veg. Mat. Med. ii. 91, t. 33; Nuttall, Gen. i. 259; 

 L. pseudo-benzoin, Michaux, Fl. Bor. Am. i. 243. 



Common Names. — Spice- wood ; Fever- bush ; Wild Allspice, &c. 



This aromatic shrub, which is from 5 — 10 feet high, is found in most parts 

 of the United States, flowering early in the spring before the appearance of 

 its leaves. They are succeeded in the autumn by oval, shining, scarlet ber- 

 ries, which are ripe in October. These are aromatic and contain much oil. 

 They are said to have been employed during the war of the Revolution as a 

 substitute for allspice. The bark is also highly aromatic, tonic and stimu- 

 lant, and has been employed with much success in the treatment of intermit- 

 tent fevers. It has usually been administered in decoction, but sometimes in 

 powder. Dr. B. S. Barton states, that an infusion of the twigs has been given 

 as a vermifuge, and has been very efficacious in such cases. The oil of the 

 berries is also esteemed, in some parts of the country, as an application to 

 bruises, and in chronic rheumatism, itch, &c, and has some reputation as a 

 carminative. The flowers are sometimes used instead of those of sassafras, 

 and for the same purposes. 



Camphora. — Nees. 



Flowers hermaphrodite, panicled, naked. Calyx 6-cleft, with a deciduous limb. Fertile 

 stamens 9, in 3 rows; the inner with 2-stalked, compressed glands at base; anthers 4- 

 celled, the outer introrse, the inner extrorse. Three sterile stamens, formed like the fer- 

 tile, placed in a whorl, and alternating with those of the second row ; 3 others stalked, 

 with an ovate head. Fruit placed on the obconical base of the calyx. 



This genus also formed part of Laurus until separated by Nees, and ap- 

 pears to possess sufficiently distinct characters to warrant the adoption of it. 

 The species are large trees with triple-nerved leaves, having glands in the 

 axils of the principal veins. 



. C. officinarum, Nees. — Leaves persistent, oval, acuminate, alternate at base. Flowers 

 smooth outside. 



Nees, Laurin. 88 ; Lindley, Fl Med. 333 ; Linn., Mat. Med. 107 ; Stephen- 

 son and Churchill, 126; L. camphorifera, Ksempfer, Amozn. 770; Cin- 

 namomum camphora, Nees and Eberm., ii. 430. 



Description. — A large tree, with a fragrant wood. The branches are somewhat droop- 

 ing, smooth, and covered with a greenish bark. The leaves are alternate, on long petioles, 

 ovate-lanceolate, somewhat coriaceous, smooth, shining, of a bright-green above, paler be- 

 neath, triple-nerved, with a depressed gland, opening by a pore, at the axils of the princi- 

 pal lateral veins beneath. Leaf-buds scaly. Flowers small, smooth externally, in naked, 

 axillary, and terminal corymbose panicles. 



This tree is a native of Japan, China, and Cochin China, and is cultivated 

 in several places in the East Indies. Every part of it is aromatic, owing 

 to the presence of Camphor, which is obtained, by dividing the wood, 



