LAURUS CAMPHORA. 
217 
tity. It I's said (hat the trees which have been cut and left standing 
in that state, will often produce camphor in eight or ten years after ; 
hut it is inferior in appearance. 
For the Sensible and Chemical Qualities, and Medicinal Proper- 
ties and Uses of Camphor, see Laurus Camphora (next article.) 
LAURUS CAMPHORA. 
Camphor Laurel* 
For Class, Order, Nat. Ord. and Gen. Char. 
see Laurus Cinnamomum. 
Spec. Char. Leaves elliptical, Ihree-nerved. Clusters 
axillary, somewhat compound, shorter than the leaves. 
This species of laurel is a native of North America, China, and 
Japan ; growing very abundantly in the woods at the western part 
of that island. It was first cultivated in England by Miller; it is 
easily propagated, and may be frequently seen in our green-houses, 
where however, although it may appear luxurious and healthy, it 
seldom produces flowers. 
The camphor laurel rises to a considerable height, divides into 
many branches, and is covered with a smooth greenish bark ; the 
leaves, which stand upon long footstalks, are ovate, lanceolate, 
entire, smooth, nerved, of a pale yellowish green on the upper sur- 
face, beneath glaucous, and are two or three inches long ; the 
flowers are small, white, and stand upon short lateral peduncles ; 
the common peduncles are long, naked, erect, and proceed from 
the alee of the leaves ; there is no calyx ; the corolla is composed 
of six small, ovate, concave, unequal petals, which enclose a 
tuberculated nectary, terminating in bristly points, and surround- 
ing the germen ; the filaments are nine, shorter than the corolla. 
* Having figured several species of the Lauras, we have not thought it necessary 
to figure this plant, more especially as it cannot be con.idered the officinal tree as 
affording the camphor. Ed, 
VOL. II. ^ " 
