174 
THALAMIFLORJE. 
Pruno forte affinis arbor, maxima materie rubra lata odorata, 
Sloatie, II. t. 220. f. 2. — Cedrela foliis pinnatis, Browne , 158. 
t. 10. f. 1. — C. odorata, Lam. III. t. 137. — Gcertn. de Fruct. II. 
HAB. Common on the lower mountains and in the plains. 
FL. January — March. 
A tree of rapid growth, and attaining a considerable height. 
The stem is round, and straight, especially where it has grown 
up in the forest, or surrounded by lofty trees in a sheltered 
situation. When it arrives at maturity, it is frequently four 
feet in diameter. Leaflets glabrous, penni-nerved, entire, deci- 
duous, renewed at the commencement of the year with the 
period of flowering. Flowers pale-yellow, panicled ; panicle 
drooping, opposite to the terminal leaf, subterminal : pedicels 
short, 1-flowered. Petals oblong, obtuse, puberulous, pubes- 
cent internally along a central longitudinal nerve, adhering at 
their middle to the stalk-like torus. Stamens 5, alternating 
with the petals, inserted along the side of the torus, where they 
are distinct, incrassated, yellow, glandulose. Ovary egg-shaped; 
stigma capitate, greenish. Capsule size of a plum, brownish. 
De Candolle has fallen into an error in stating the inflorescence 
of the genus to be axillary. In the species before us it is decid- 
edly subterminal. 
This is one of the most valuable timber trees of the Island. 
The wood is of a reddish brown colour and has a pleasant 
smell. The leaves, bark, and flowers of the growing tree on 
the contrary give out, especially when young and after rains, a 
most disagreeable alliaceous odour, resembling that of assafoetida 
or garlic mixed with that of highly dried tobacco, and is felt 
very sensibly at a considerable distance. As a timber it is 
superior to pitch-pine, and is employed for similar purposes. It 
is particularly recommended for wainscoting rooms, and for 
chests and the inside work of clothes’ presses and drawers, from 
the circumstance that vermin are not known to breed in it. This 
may be ascribed partly to the strong odour it exhales, and also 
to the bitter taste of the wood itself. Hence though it is 
occasionally employed to make rum butts, it always communi- 
cates, from the resin in the wood becoming dissolved, a peculiar 
bitter taste. It has been remarked that pigeons never take to, 
nor breed in a house made with this wood, probably from the 
strong smell it exhales. In like manner bees never build in a 
hive made of it. Meat also placed in a fresh cedar box, is 
said to acquire a peculiar taste. 
One of the principal purposes for which the cedar is employ- 
ed, is for splitting into shingles to cover houses. They are 
very durable and usually last for 15 years. They may be pre- 
served much longer by giving them an occasional coat of oil 
paint, or a composition of lime, molasses, and salt. I may here 
remark, that trees grown in the forests are the best adapted for 
splitting into shingles ; for in exposed situations the stem is 
