■The trees which respectively produce the Cinnamon and Cassia
spices have, for a long series of years afforded matter for discussion
and been a subject of controversy among Botanists. The question
whether these barks were the produce of one or of several species
having recently been referred to me by the Madras Government, I
have been induced, in the present number of these leones, to lay before
the public figures of number of the species of the genus Oinna-
momum, the younger branches of most, or perhaps all, 01 which, there
is reason to believe, are peeled, as yielding an aromatic bark, more or
less allied in its properties and flavour to that of the true Cinnamon
and sold in the European markets under the name of Cinnamon or
Cassia, according to its qualities. . . . ,
The Cinnamomum zeylcmicum of this series is, that which turnishes
the true Ceylon Cinnamon, the C. aromalicum supplies the Chinese
Cinnamon, which is but little, if at all less valuable, but is I believe,
that which is considered among European druggists the genuine or
first sort Cassia of commerce—nearly all the other species here
figured, there is reason to believe, are indiscriminately peeled, and
the bark sold as Cassia bark. The plant figured No. 132 (Litsaa
Zeylanica) is the type of the Linnsean Laurus Cassia, with which he
associate«, the species figured in Nos, 130 and 141, both of which are
now ascertained to be most distinct, hut which he did not discover
owing to his specimen not being in flower. This one error, which
seems never before to have been traced to its source, gave rise to all
the controversy which has at different times divided Botanists on
this subject. For further details on this point I beg to refer to a
short paper of mine published in the 3th volume page 130, of the
Madras Journal of Science. To save unnecessary repetitions in explaining
the plates I here subjoin the generic characters of the genus
Cinnamomum, with such explanations as may be necessary to make
them clearly understood,
Cinnamomum. Flowers bisexual or polygamous, calyx 6-eleft in a
double series, the upper half of each segment separating from the
cup-shaped tube. Stamens 12, in a quadruple series, the two outer
rows fertile, opposite the segments of the calyx and opening inwards,
the third row also fertile, opposite the outer series turned
outwards and bearing on the filaments two glands, (staminodia) the
4th series sterile, opposite the second. Anthers ovate, 4-celled,
opening by valves, the inferior cells larger, lateral, the sterile ones
ovate, capitate. Ovary T-celled, with one ovule. Stigma discoid.
Berry 1-seeded, the base embraced by the enlarged 6-toothed persistent
cup-shaped base' of the calyx.—Indian trees yielding aromatic
bark, the leaves nerved, approximated by pairs or opposite, flowers
panicled or fascicled without involucra, the buds naked.
In some of the following dissections of the flowers of Cinnamomum,
.the four series of stamens are represented separately two and two, that
is, the two outer rows are left attached to the segments of the calyx,
■while the inner ones which usually easily separate are represented
distinct, by which means the staminodia, or glands, and sterile stamens
are more clearly shown, and the confusion which might arise'
from .bad printing, or otherwise, avoided, The following character of
the genus Litsma xs, copied from Professor Endlicher’s most valuable
Genera Plantarum. It is slightly modified from Noes’ character of
Tetradenia, a name pre-OCGupied for a genus of Labiatw, and therefore
inadmissible here.
Lilscea (Juss.) Flowers dioieous, the buds covered with scales.
Male calyx 4-5, or 6 parted, deciduous, Male stamens fi, of which 4
or the two interior ones have two glands at the base. Anthers m-
trorse, 4-celled, the 4 valves ascending—Female—Stamens 4-6, thickened
above opposite the segments of the calyx, 4 sessile glands surrounding
the ovary, either approximated by pairs or attached to the
Sand 6th sterile filaments. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovui.ed, style short;
stigma discoid. Berry 1-seeded, naked, placed on a pedicel thickened
at the apex.—Indian trees with alternate nerved leaves, flowers
axillary, fascicled, flower-buds sessile, in pairs, or several'densely
imbricated with deciduous scales.
A reference to the figure No. 132, will render most of these characters
sufficiently obvious; it being borne in mind that they vary somewhat
in different species. It may however he remarked here that the
drawing is made entirely from dry specimens, and on some points,
owing to the minuteness and difficulty of displaying the parts of the
flower, not quite so perfect as 1 could wish. , ,, ,
In the arrangement of my materials for this Number, I regret that
more attention was not paid in the first instance, as, had that been
done, a methodical in place of a chance distribution of the species
might have been affected.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES.
122 8c 122, bis. Cirmamomum iners. Nees.
1. Flowering branch, natural size—2. A flower—3 and 4. The same
dissected—5. The inner series.of stamens shown separately to prevent
the confusion and difficulty in understanding the structure, which
results when shown «'» situ—6. The ovary cut vertically, showing the
solitary ovule—7. Cut transversely—S. A mature fruit, natural size—
9. The same cut vertically—10. Transversely, with the exceptions
mentioned, all more or less magnified.
The specimen represented in the first of these figures was communicated
by Dr. Walfich from the Calcutta botanic garden. The one
in fruit which was examined, and named by Piofessor Nees, is from
Malabar.
123. Cinnamomum zeylanicum, natural size—2. A flower—3-4.
The same dissected—5-6. The ovary cut vertically and transversely—
7. A mature fruit—8-9. The same cut vertically and transversely—10,
The embryo, all more or less magnified.
The specimen figured was gathered in the Cinnamon gardens of
Columho, this, though I apprehend not the finest variety,was adopted
as coming from the best native station, in preference to others not
raised in Ceylon.
124. Cinnamomum nitidum, natural size—2. A dissected flower—
8. A stamen of the outer series—4. A sterile stamen—5, A stamen of
the inner series with its glands—6. The ovary out transversely—7.
Vertically—8. A full grown fruit—9. The same cut vertically—10.
The embryo, all more or less magnified.
Copied from Roxburgh’s drawing.
126. Cinnamomum multiflorum, R. W.
1. Flowering branch, natural size—2-3. The flower dissected—4-5.
The ovary cut transversely and vertically, more or less magnified.
The specimen was received from Ceylon, and though apparently
the same species differs sufficiently from Roxburgh’s plants No. 131,
to entitle ft to rank as a distinct variety.
127. Cinnamon villosum, (It. W.) All the younger parts of the
plant clothed with soft villous pubescence : branches terete, leaves
ovate, lanceolate, acute, panicles stalked, diffuse, about the length of
.the leaves.
Hah: Ceylon in woods.
This species seems closely allied to the true Cinnamon, and may he
the O. perpetuoflorens of Burman, though that appears doubtful.
I t is principally distinguished by its pubescence.
1. Flowering branch, natural size—2-3. A dissected flower—4-5.
Ovary cut vertically and transversely-6-7. Portions of a leaf magnified
to show the pubescence on both sides—all more or less magnified.
128. Laurus cassia, Bot, Mag. 1636. This in the estimation of
Nees von lisenbeck is a variety of the true Cinnamon plant, an opinion
in which after repeated comparisons with both growing plants
and dried specimens, I cannot coincide, though I am unable to say to
what species it is referable.
Copied from the Botanical Magazine.
' 129. Laurus cinnamomum, Bot. Mag. 2028. This I at first considered
a variety of the former, and on that supposition have doubtfully
named it O. zeylanicnm, a more careful examination lias led
me to alter my opinion, and now I think it a variety of 136, C. aromalicum,
Nees.
This like the preceding is copied from the Botanical Magazine.
130. Cinnamomum iners. Carua—Rheede, Hort. Mai. This like
128 is quoted by Nees as a variety of O. zeylanicum, but in my opinion
is much more correctly referable to O. iners. This is one of the
plants quoted by Linnaeus as his Laurus cassia. It is totally different
from the Ceylon plant which he had before him (No. 132) and described
in the Flora zeylanica.
This figure is copied from Rheede’s Hort. Mai.
131. Cinnamomum multiflorum, Nees—Laurus mullijlora, Roxb.
natural size—2-3. A disserted flower.
This figure is copied from Roxburgh’s drawing, a native of Ceylon,
132. Litsaea zeylanica, Nees—Tetradenia zeylanica, Nees—Laurus
cassia, Lin. natural size—2. A flower-bud unopened—3. The same,
the involucrum opened and spread out to show the enclosed flowers
in situ—4. The involucrum with the flowers in a very early stage—?
5. A flower unopened—6. The same opened—7. The glandnlifcrons
stamens back and front views—8. Stamens of the outer series back
and front views—9. The ovary—10-11. The same cut vertically and
transversely—12. A mature fruit, natural size—13. The seed—14-15.
The seed cut vertically and transversely, the former showing the embryo
in situ—with the exceptions mentioned, all more or less magnified.
The flowers of the fertile plant of this species are, it appears, bisexual.
The specimen figured is from Ceylon.
L 133. Cinnamomum ? recurvatum. Laurus recurvala, Roxb.—2. A
dissected flower—3. A sterile stamen.
Copied from Roxburgh’s drawing—I do not find this species in
Nees* enumeration of Indian Laurinse, and not being in fruit I am not
sure that it is a species of Cinnamomum, hence the mark of doubt.
134. Cinnamomum zeylanicum, *Y Nees, natural size—2-3. A dissected
flower—4-5. Ovary cut vertically and transversely.
The specimen from which the drawing was made was communicated,
along with many more Ceylon Laurime, by Colonel Walker.
The branches and leaves are glabrous, the flowers somewhat hairy,
fruit I have not seen. This it appears to me is identical with Bur-
man’s Cin: perpetuo florens—and certainly a variety of C. zeylanicum.
135. Cinnamomum dubium, Nees.—The analysis as in the preceding.
The specimen from which this figure is taken was compared
with one in my herbarium, named as above by Professor Nees, and
found accurately to correspond. One of the magnified flowers in the
upper comers is taken from the specimen named by Nees.
Hah: Ceylon.
136. Cinnamomum aromaticum, Nees. Copied from the Botanical
Repository, No. 596.
This figure is quoted by Nees as a correct representation of his
C. aromalicum; the species which yields the China Cinnamon, or
first sort Cassia of the European market.
137. Cinnamomum Culitlawan, Nees—Zauri« Gulildban, Roxb.
This figure is copied from Roxburgh’s diawing.
138 Cinnamomum dulce, Nees—Laurtts dulcis, Roxb. natural
size—2. A dissected flower—3, Sterile stamen—4. Fruit.
Copied from Roxburgh’s figure.
139. Cinnamomum obtusifolium, Nees—Laurus obiusifolia, Roxb.
natural size—2. A dissected flower—3. Glanduliferous stamen—4. A
separate gland—5. A berry—6. The same out vertically—7. The
embryo 1
Copied from Roxburgh’s figure,
140. Cinnamomum albiflorum, (Wall.) Laurus cassia, Roxb. no*
turalsize—2. A dissected flower—3. Detached fertile stamens—4.
A sterile stamen-5. A berry—6-7. Cut vertically and transversely.
Copied from Roxburgh’s drawing.
125. Cinnamomum ovalifolium, (R, W.) Young branches quadrangular,
and with the under surface of the leaves villous, leaves
ovate, obtuse, panicles axillary, shorter than the leaves, few flowered.
Hab: Woods, Ceylon.
1. Flowering branch, natural size—2-3. A dissected flower—4-5.
Ovary cut vertically and transversely—6, A portion of a leaf magnified
to show the villi—all more or less magnified.
Specimens communicated by Colonel Walker.
141. Cinnamomum perpetuo florens, Burin,—.Copied from Bur«
man’s Thesaurus Zeylanieus,