201 
been obliged by him with his latest views of the genera of the order which 
are given in the list that follows this article. 
Geography. Trees inhabiting cool places in the tropics of either hemis- 
phere ; in a very few instances only, straggling to the northward in North 
America and Europe, No genus is known to exist in any part of the conti- 
nent of Africa. This is the more remarkable, as several species of Laurus 
have been found both in Teneriffe and Madeira, and some other genera exist 
in Madagascar, and in the Isles of France and Bourbon, Brown, Congo, 464. 
Properties. It would be difficult to name another order at once so 
important and uniform in its qualities as this, the species being universally 
aromatic, warm, and stomachic. Cinnamon and Cassia are the produce of 
various species ; the most genuine are yielded by Laurus Cinnamomum and 
L. Cassia ; but L. Culilaban and Malabathrum can both be substituted for 
these spices : the Cinnamon of the Isle of France is Laurus cupularis, that of 
Peru is L. Quixos. The Cinnamon of Santa Fe is produced by Laurus Cin- 
namomoides. Hurnh. Cinch. For. 27. Eng. ed. The Sassafras nuts of the 
London shops are the fruit of the Laurus Pucheri of the Flora Peruviana. 
Ibid. Camphor is yielded by Laurus Camphora and other species ; even by 
the Cinnamon tree itself. The properties of all these are due to the presence 
of a volatile oil ; but they also contain in many cases a fixed oil which is sup- 
posed to constitute the principal part of the fruit of Persea gratissima, so much 
esteemed in the West Indies under the name of the Avocado Pear ; the same 
oil appears in the form of a greasy exudation in the fruit of Litsea sebifera. 
A species of Laurus in Sumatra, called by Jack, Parthenoxylon, yields an 
oil useful in rheumatic affections ; and an infusion of the roots is drank as 
sassafras, the qualities of which it resembles. Ed. P. J. 6. 398. The bark 
of Laurus Benzoin is highly aromatic, stimulant, and tonic, and is extensively 
used in North America in intermittent fevers. The oil of the fruit is said to 
be stimulant. Barton, 2. 95. A plant of this family found in the forests of 
Spanish Guiana yields a volatile oil, with a warm and pungent taste and 
aromatic smell. It is employed externally as a discutient, and internally as a 
diaphoretic, diuretic, and resolvent. Ed. P. J. 12. 417. The volatile oil 
obtained from some species of Laurus found in vast forests between the 
Oronoko and the Parime, is produced in great abundance by merely making 
an incision into the bark with an axe, as deep as the liber. It gushes out in 
such quantity, that several quarts may be obtained by a single incision. 
It has the reputation of being a powerful discutient. For further informa- 
tion, see Brewster's Journal, 1. 134. In addition to these qualities, there 
is present in some species an acrid, red, or violet juice, like that found in 
Myristicacese ; it is particularly abundant in L. parvifolia, globosa, foetens, 
and caustica. 
GENERA. 
(Supplied by Professor C. G. Nees von Esenbeck, Dec. 1. 1835.) 
§ 1. CiNNAMOMEiE, Bolda, Feuill. Mespilodaphne,N.abE.§ 8. Dicypellia, 
N. ab E. Alseodaphne, N.ab.E.§ 6. Acrodiclidia, N. ab E. 
Cinnamomum, Burm. Hufelandia, N. ab E. N. ab E. Dicypellium, N, et M. 
§ 2. CAMPHOREiE, § 5. Cryptocarye^, Aydendron, N. et M. Licaria, Aubl. 
N. ab E. N. ab E. Evonymodaphne, Petalanthera, N. et M, 
Camphora, N. ab E. Endiandra, R. Br. N. ab E. (26) Pleurothyrium, 
§ 3. Ocote-e, N. ab E. Beilschmiedia, N.abE. Acrodiclidium,N.et M. N. ab E. (27) 
Apollonias, N. ab E. Cecidodaphne, N.abE. Misanteca, Schult. § 9. Oreodaphne^, 
Ocotea, Aubl. Cryptocarya, R. Br. § 7. NECXANDREiE, N. ab E. 
§ 4. PERSEiE, N. ab. E. Agathophyllum, W. N. ab E. Teleiandra, Nees. 
Persea, Gaertn. Ravensara, Sonn. Nectandra, Roland. Leptodaphne, N. et M. 
Machilus, Rumf. Evodia, Guerin. Pomatium, N. et M, Ajouea, Aubl. 
