RiELIACE/E. 1/3 
HAB. Common in Port- Royal mountains. Near St Cather- 
ine’s Peak. St Thomas in the East. 
FL. January, February. 
A tree about twenty feet in height, with spreading branches. 
Leaflets opposite, petiolulated, smooth and shining above, pub- 
erulous beneath with the axils of the nerves wooly. Racemes 
6-12 inches long, simple. Flowers shortly pedicelled, white 
fragrant, showy. Calyx small, 4-gonal, 4-fid. Petals ovato- 
lanceolate, obtuse, reflected. Tube of the stamens tetragonal, 
8-toothed : anthers 8, inserted on the inside of the mouth of 
the tube. Ovary subrotund : style subulate, length of the tube 
of the stamens : stigma 4-gonal, depressed. Capsule size of a 
common plum, subglobose, of a russet colour, granulated, 4- 
valved, 4-celled : seeds solitary, with a scarlet arillus. 
All parts of this tree, especially the bark, have a strong 
smell of musk, resembling that of the Alligator. From this cir- 
cumstance the tree has received the name of the Alligator wood. 
There cannot be a doubt, that many parts of this tree are pos- 
sessed of medical properties. The powdered bark, according 
to Dr Patrick Browne, is a good emetic ; and Aublet states, 
that it produces violent purging and vomiting. The seeds are 
bitter, and have a warm musky taste. The wood is soft and 
of little value. It is sometimes employed for the staves and 
heading of sugar hogsheads. It is not adapted for rum pun- 
cheons, as it communicates its peculiar smell and a bitter taste 
to all spirituous liquors. Long observes that the old women in 
his time were in the habit of scenting their persons with the 
powdered bark of this tree, “ till they smelled like civet cats 
IV. Cedrela. Cedar. 
Calyx minute 5-toothed. Petals 5, broad at the 
base. Stamens 5, distinct, short ; anthers oblong. 
Stigma capitate. Capsule woody, 5-celled, 5-valved: 
seeds co, compressed, imbricated, terminating in a 
membranaceous wing ; albumen llesliy ; embryo in- 
verted ; cotyledons plane leafy. 
Leaves abruptly pinnated ; pinnae of many pairs ; racemes 
panieled, generally axillary. — The name, is derived from ced- 
rus, the cedar tree. 
1. Cedrela odorata. TVest-lndian Cedar. 
Leaflets ovato-lanceolate entire sub-sessile of' a 
similar colour on both sides. 
