56 BOOK OF THE SCENTED GARDEN 
Baldo (Peumos fragrans).—Somewhat like Sweet Gale 
(Myrica Gale). 
Balm (Melissa officinalis). 
Balm of Gilead (Dracocephalum canariense). 
Balsam of Mecca (Balsamodendron opobalsamum).— Aro- 
matic gum resin, highly valued by the Arabs and 
Indian Mussulmans 
Balsam of Peru (Pereirea myrospermum).—A leguminous 
tree, native of Central America; but the balsam is 
now rarely obtained and little used. It was employed 
for chronic coughs, ulcers, and in the making of 
pastilles. 
Balsam of Tolu (Myrospermum toluifera).—Similar to the 
last and employed in same way, but now rare. 
Balsamita vulgaris (Costmary or Alecost)—A hardy 
herbaceous plant from Italy having balmy or aromatic 
foliage. 
Barosma crenulata (Buchu Leaves).—Evergreen shrubs 
from South Africa. 
Basil (Ocimum basilicum and other species).—Basil is a 
delicious pot-herb much used in the south of Europe. 
The malarial “fever plant” of Africa is O. viride, of 
which much has been made lately in the newspapers, 
owing to the erroneous supposition that its odour 
would banish mosquitoes. 
Bdellium (Boswellia glabra).—Also a gum resin from 
Balsamodendron africanum (African Bdellium). Amyris 
bdelium or Balsamodendron roxburghi is <* Indian 
Bdellium.” 
Benzoin (Styrax benzoin).—Not to be corfounded with 
Laurus benzoin. It is an aromatic gum resin, not 
much used except in incense. Native of Borneo and 
Indian islands. It is sometimes called ‘‘Gum Ben- 
jamin.” False Benzoin is obtained from two or three 
species of the genus Terminahia. 
Bergamot (Monarda didyma). 
