ON  THE  ORIGIN  OF  BAY  RUM. 
291 
"with  a  layer  of  hard,  reddish  white  wood  and  the  bark.  The 
leaves  are  2J  to  4  inches  in  length,  and  vary  in  shape  from 
oblong  to  elliptic  ;  they  are  rounded,  or  the  smaller  ones  some- 
what attenuate  at  apex  or  at  both  ends,  obtuse,  entire,  with  the 
margin  revolute  and  somewhat  wavy.  The  midrib  sends  out  at 
angles  of  about  80  to  85^  numerous  parallel  veins,  irregularly 
connected  with  each  other  and  confluent  near  the  margin  in  a 
vein  nearly  parallel  with  it.  The  midrib  bears  a  groove  on  the 
upper  surface,  and  is  much  elevated  beneath ;  the  veins  are  ele- 
vated on  both  sides,  but  most  prominent  above.  The  color  of 
the  leaves,  which  were  collected  many  years  ago,  is  dark  brown 
green,  lighter  beneath.  When  rubbed  they  emit  the  peculiar 
odor  of  bay  rum,  and  their  taste  is  warm  aromatic,  resembling 
allspice  and  cloves  to  a  certain  extent.  The  leaf  from  Mr.  John 
agrees  with  this  description  in  every  respect,  except  that  it  is 
obovate  and  has  alight  green  color,  which  is  more  greyish  green 
beneath. 
Knox's  St.  Thomas,  W.  I.,  a  small  volume,  contains  a  list  of 
plants  growing  in  that  island,  among  which  is  Myrcia  acris,  DeC, 
with  the  English  synonym  hayherry  tree  ;  the  work  contains  a 
chapter  on  the  commerce  of  the  island,  but  I  was  disappointed 
in  not  finding  the  slightest  allusion  to  bay  rum. 
Curtis's  (London)  Botanical  Magazine,  new  ser.  vi.  No.  3153, 
contains  a  colored  plate  of  Myrcia  acris,  which  agrees  pretty 
well  with  the  leaves,  and  gives  the  following  description  and 
information,  from  the  former  of  which  I  extract  that  part  bear- 
ing on  the  leaves  and  branches  : 
"  Myrcia, — Folia  opposita  integerrima  pellucido-punctata  aut 
opaca,  nervatione  Myrti  donata. 
M,  acris  (De  C.  Prod.  iii.  243). — Foliis  ellipticis  obtusis  con- 
vexis  coriaceis  glaberrimis  superne  venis  elevatis  reticulatis  sub- 
tillissimis  pellucido-punctatis. 
Myrtus  acris,  (Sw.  Fl.  Ind.  occ.  ii.  909,  Willd.  Sp. 
pi.  973.  Ait.  Hort.  Kew.  ed.  2,  p.  190.  Sprengel  Syst.  Veget. 
ii.  487.) 
Myrtus  caryophyllata,  (Jacq.  Obs.  ii.  1,)  non  Linn. 
Caryophyllus  L,  foliis  oblongo-ovatis  oppositis,  racemis  late- 
ralibus  et  terminalibus,  (Browne's  Jamaica,  247.) 
