S70 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



by the Jews as an ejnblem in the Feast of the Tabernacles, 

 but only sprigs of the variety having three leaves in a whorl. 



Clove {Caryophyllus aromaticus). A handsome bushy 

 evergreen tree, attaining the height of from 20 to 30 feet, 

 having upright branches with smooth elliptical leaves 3 to 5 

 inches in length. It is a native of the Moluccas, and presents 

 a singular history of monopoly by the Dutch, who restricted 

 the cultivation of the plant to the island of Amboyna, and 

 vast quantities of cloves were destroyed by them at Amster- 

 dam, in order to sustain a certain price. In time, however, 

 the plant was introduced to other islands, and is now culti- 

 vated in India, Ceylon, Mauritius, and the West Indies. The 

 whole of the plant is aromatic and affords clove oil ; the 

 clove, so well known in culinary use, is the unexpanded 

 flower buds, and not, as generally supposed, the frmt. The 

 name clove has been given to it on account of its resemblance 

 to a nail, from the French word clou. 



Allspice {^Eugenia Pimento). A native of the West 

 Indies ; it is a handsome growing bushy tree, with smooth 

 elliptical leaves, which are highly aromatic. It is much cul- 

 tivated in Jamaica, and other West Indian Islands, for the 

 sake of its fruit, which is berry-like, about the size of a 

 small pea, and growing in clusters. It is highly aromatic 

 and pungent, and forms the well-known allspice used in 

 cookery, confectionery, and medicine. 



GuaYa (Psidium pomife?^u?n Sindi P . pyriferwn). Small trees, 

 originally natives of the West Indies, but now universally 

 cultivated in most tropical countries. By some botanists 

 they are considered as distinct species, and by others only as 

 varieties of one species. The chief difference is in the shape 

 of their fruit, one being apple and the other pear-shaped, of 

 a yellow colour outside, the pulp red. They are highly 

 esteemed, and come to this country as a preserve, under the 

 name of Guava jelly and cheese. 



Purple Guava {Psidium Cattleyanum). Said to be a native 

 of Brazil, but it first came to this country from China, about 

 the year 1820. It is a strong growing species ; one of the 



