

Hi IHhHH 



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l£Llfc*' : 



368 



CAT1NGA BRANCA. 



[append. 



Two beautiful species of a new genus, which I have 

 dedicated to H. R. H. the Princess of Brazil ; the roots 

 of these plants are tuberous, abounding with soft and 

 nutritive fecula, which has afforded assistance to the 

 people of the Sertam of Pajau in times of drought. 

 These plants are worthy of being cultivated not only 

 from their utility, but for the purpose of ornamenting 

 gardens, their flowers being umbellate, crimson, and 

 very beautiful. 



Canella do Mato, Linharea aromatica : — Arrud. 

 Cent. Plant. Pern. 



Catinga Branca, Linharea tinctorea: — Arrud. Cent. 

 Plant. Pern. 



Of the first of these plants, the leaves and bark have 

 a pleasant smell, which is like that of cloves. It is not 

 as yet used, being unknown. I have made use of the 

 leaves and bark of this plant in distilling rum, and have 

 obtained a pleasant liqueur. I have learnt by experi- 

 ence that the extract of the leaves is not only pleasant 

 to the taste and smell, but that it likewise strengthens 

 the stomach. It is to be found in the greatest abund- 

 ance upon the taboleiros, which bound the captaincies of 

 Paraiba and Seara, upon the borders of Pinhanco, and 

 I have likewise seen it in Piauhi. * 



The second of these plants is a shrub which grows 

 abundantly upon the skirts of the mountains, and upon 



* Labat speaks of a species of canelle batarde, and he adds, — " On 

 se sert beaucoup en Italie (Tunc candle scmblable a cellc quejc viens dc 

 decrire ; les Portugal I'apportent du Bresil dam despaniers dc roscaux 

 refendus et a jour ; on Vappelle canelle gerofle'e {canella gtnmfanata). 

 On la met en pondre avec un peu de gcrqfle, de veritable canelle, de 

 poivre et de graines tout-dfaite rescmblablcs a celles de nos bois d'Inde 

 des Isles, et on en fait un debit assez considerable." — Nouveau Voy- 

 age, &c. torn. iii. p. 92. 



