THE LAUREL FAMILY. 



251 



vated in Ceylon for its bark, which rolls up in drying, like 

 pipes about the size of the finger or larger, and forms the 

 cinnamon of commerce. 



Cassia bark (JJinnamomum cassia). This is similar to the 

 last, but has blunter leaves. Cassia buds are the young 

 buds of this and some allied species. Other species also 

 furnish aromatic barks which are used as substitutes for 

 cinnamon. 



That cinnamon and cassia were known to the Israelites, 

 appears evident from the fact that they formed two of the 

 spices* ordered to be used in the preparation of the per- 

 fumes and incense for the altar of the tabernacle. From 

 this it must be inferred that a trade in spices was carried on 

 through Arabia with India and Ceylon. 



Camphor {Camphora officinarurn). A tree, native of 

 China and Japan. It yields the principal camphor of com- 

 merce, the greater quantity coming from the island of 

 Formosa. It is obtained by boiling the wood of the tree in 

 water, when the camphor is deposited. 



The Dodder Laurel Family. 



(Cassythace^.) 



Twining pale-coloured plants, their seeds first germinating 

 in the earth, but soon becoming parasitical on trees and other 

 plants. Destitute of true leaves, which are represented by 

 scales, their whole habit being similar to European Dodders, 

 and although thus differing extremely in appearance from 

 the Laurel Family, they nevertheless agree in the character 

 of their flowers, which are in clusters. The family consists 

 of about 6 or more species, all widely distributed through- 

 out the tropics. They are of much stronger growth than 

 dodder, even to that degree that they as readily destroy 

 trees as the dodder destroys the plant on which it grows. 



Exodus, chap. xxx. ver. 23. 



