PORTUGAL LAUREL. 139 



flows into the Black Sea, and from which 

 they received their name, being called by 

 the Greeks <&a,<r two '$•. The Latin phasianus is 

 the same, and our pheasant, and the French 

 faisand, have the same derivation. 



The Portugal laurel ripens its fruit in Oc- 

 tober, which is a drupe of a dark purple 

 colour and spicy flavour. The seed is con- 

 tained in a nut or stone similar to that of the 

 cherry, but more pointed at the top, and 

 smaller than that of the common laurel. The 

 wood of the Portugal laurel appears to be 

 nearly as hard as that of box ; and as it grows 

 with a strong tree-like stem to the height of 

 twenty or thirty feet, it may turn to account 

 as a substitute for box-wood. 



It has a fine effect in the plantation during 

 the month of June, when it is often covered 

 with long pendent racemes, or strings of white 

 rosette flowers, opening in succession from the 

 top of the flower-stalk, whilst the buds are 

 gradually diminished to the end, like pearl- 

 beads set in the most graceful manner. The 

 branches are covered with a shining purplish 

 bark, and the young wood and leaf-stalks are 

 of a fine red tint, which contrast most hap- 

 pily with the lucid green of the upper surface 

 of the leaf; whilst it harmonizes in an equally 

 agreeable manner with the pomona green of 



