SMALL-LEAVED LIGNUM VITM. 
17 
Jasminum vulgo americanum . S. Evonymo affinis occidentalism alatis 
rusci foliis, nucifera , cortice ad genicula fungoso. Pluk. Almag. p. 
139, tab. 94, fig. 4. 
Lignun Vita ex Brasilia . Blackwall, tab. 350. fig. 3, 4. 
/3. G. # parvifolium, foliis subtrijugis foliolis obliquis , caypsulis ypenta - 
ypteris. 
This species forms a spreading tree, resembling an oak, 
with a thick short trunk, and, according to Dr. Blodgett, 
(who found it to be abundant in Key West,) its fine blue 
flowers, in April, make a very beautiful appearance. It 
is a native likewise of various tropical parts of South Ame- 
rica, the island of St. Domingo, St. Juan of Porto Rico 
and in Mexico. According to Plunder, the wood of this 
species is as hard and as heavy as that of the true Lignum 
Vitae, but of the colour of Box. Yet Hernandez describes 
the wood as blue internally, which probably takes place in 
the older trunks, and thus again resembling the officinal 
Guaiacum. The bark of this tree is gray or yellowish- 
gray, and even. The leaflets are never more than 2, or 
mostly 3 pair, somewhat cuneate-oblong, oblique and 
obtuse, but terminating in short setaceous points; the 
young branchlets and margins of the leaves are somewhat 
pubescent. The flowers are terminal, on longish peduncles, 
and from 2 to 4 together. The segments of the calyx are 
nearly smooth and oblong. The petals 5, are oval, rounded, 
partly unguiculate, smooth and perfectly entire. The cap- 
sule is turbinate, and furnished mostly with 5 salient angles 
or wings. 
The wood of the true Lignum Vitee is so heavy as to 
sink in water, to the taste it is slightly bitter and inodo- 
rous. It takes a fine polish and turns well, being much 
used where solidity is an object, such as for ship-blocks, 
pestles, &c. The centre of the wood is of an obscure 
green, and is the part which contains the larger proportion 
of resin ; the outer layer or sap wood is more yellow, 
