C 861 ] 
Linnaeus, in his Species Plantarum , places them 
under the title Enneandria Monogynia , by the name 
Laurus. 
The leaf, flower, and fruit, of this plant, are par- 
ticularly defcribed by Mr Ray. 
The leaf is fmooth and fhining ; has one large 
vein running thro’ the midft, and a remarkable one 
on each fide ; the middle one generally running near 
the length of the leaf. 
The leaves differ in fhape, fome being more acute, 
others more oval or obtufe. 
The flowers grow in an umbel, fomewhat like the 
Laurus Tinus ; but they are fmall, confifting of one 
petal, of a tubular form at the bottom, and divided 
at the top into fix fegments in the form of a liar. 
The flowers are fucceeded by berries growing out 
of a capfula, like acorns in fhape ; which berries 
contain a fhining feed. 
The defeription of Mr. Ray of the flower, in his 
defeription of the Cinnamon of Malabar, is ex- 
tremely accurate ; as is alfo the figure in the Hortus 
Malabaricus , N°. 54. and the defeription, fol. 107. 
under the name Carua. I fhali therefore refer to 
thole. 
I fhali not trouble you with the quefiion debated 
by Mr. Ray, whether the Cinnamon and Cafiia of 
the ancients were, or were not, the fame with thole 
fo called by the moderns ? whether the Cinnamon 
of the ancients was the twigs of the tree bearing 
cloves, or any plant now unknown to us ? Mr. Ray 
has largely treated on this fubjedt; and to him I refer 
fuch as are curious to be informed on this fubjedt. 
But as the Cinnamon and Cafiia of the ancients 
are faid to have been ufed as perfumes, and to make 
4 perfumed 
