CHAP. XC1II.
LAUKA'CEA:. LAU'RUS.
1305
S4 9. L. genicula'ta Michjc. The knee-flexed -branched Laurel,
Identification. Michx. FI. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 244.; Pers. Synops., 1. p. 450.; Walt, FI. Car,
Pursh FI. Amer. Sept., 1. p.276.; Bot. Mag., 1.1471.
Synonymes. L. Eubsmus genicul&ta Nutt. Gen., 1. p. 259.; L. jestivalis Willd. Sp. Pi., 2. p. 484.,according to Pursh.
Engravings. Bot. Mag., 1.1471.; and our fig. 1173.
Spec. Char., fyc. Branches divaricate and flexuous. Leaves cuneate-oblong,mostly obtuse, about ljin. long, in many instances less than half an inchwide, entire, glabrous, except upon the under side near the base. Flowersin terminal small umbels, that are upon con-spicuous footstalks and smooth. Anthersunequally 4-celled. Sexes polygamous.
(Nutt. Gen.,i. p. 259.) Nuttall adds thatthis kind grows from 8 ft. to 12 ft. high, iand that the branches are flexuous, grey,smooth, and so remarkably divaricated asto give a characteristic appearance to thepods which they border; and that its nativelocalities are, invariably, sandy swamps, andthe margins of lagoons, from Virginia toFlorida . Dr. Sims has noted that the UTSzigzag direction and deep colour of the branches distinguish the L. geniculataat first sight; and that he could not perceive in its bark any of the aromaticscent so remarkable in most of the genus, and which is so clearly percep-tible in L. Benzoin. Pursh states that the flowers are yellow, and theberries globose and scarlet. We received a plant of this species from Bar-tram’s Botanic Garden, in 1831: it appeared very distinct; but, owingto the crowded state of our garden, and the want of moisture, it died in thesummer of 1834. Price of plants, at New York , 1 dollar.
App. I. Half-hardy Species ofl^auracetz.
Cinnambmum Camphora Swt. Taurus Campkora L., the Camphor tree, (N. I)u Ham , 2. t. 35.;
Bot. Mag., t. 2658.and our fig.HH.) is a native of Japan , and other parts of Eastern India, where
it grows to the height of the European lime tree, and makes a fine appearance, from its glossy
shining leaves. The wood is white, with reddish waxyleaves, and the odour of camphor is exhaled from it, andfrom every other part of the plant. Camphor, and camphoroil, are well known medicines, which are obtained fromthis .tree. Camphor is considered one of the principaldiaphoretics, and is of a particularly subtile and penetrating
1174
nature, quickly diffusing itself through the whole human frame. It is used in a great variety ofmedical preparations. Camphor is obtained from the tree by splitting the wood into small pieces,^ water in an iron retort, covered with an earthen or wooden pot, in the hollowot which hay or straw is placed, to which the camphor adheres as it rises with the steam of the water.It is at first of a brownish white, and in very small particles, but, after being redistilled, it is com-pressed into the lumps which we see in the shops. The camphor used in Europe is chiefly importedfrom Japan . Camphor oil is obtained by making an incision in the trunk of the tree, and insertinga small tube of reed, through which the sap exudes, from which the oil is obtained by skimming,in British gardens the camphor tree is commonly kept in green-houses or cold-pits; and we have noaouot whatever, that, with a moderate degree of protection, it would live against a conservative wall.
U verum Swt. ; Taurus Cinnambmum L. ; L. Cassia Bot. Mag., 1636.; and our fig. 1175. ; the