The famous Gin-seng, to which the Chinese attribute such extraordinary virtues, and which, as Osbeck informs us, was commonly sold in their shops in 1751 (see his Travels, English edit. p. 222) for from 30 to 40 times its weight in silver, and which one of their Emperors, 40 years before that, sent 10,000 Tartars in quest of at once, is said by that author to be a species of Panax; but the plant is yet unknown in Europe. Panax fruticosum, we are informed, was introduced to this country about the year 1800, and requires to be kept in the hot-house. The specimen was communicated from Boyton by A. B. Lambert, esq.
PLATE DXCVI.
LAURUS CINNAMOMUM.
Cinnamon Tree.
CLASS IX. ORDER I. OR CLASS XXII. ORDER VII.
ENNEANDRIA MONOGYNIA, or DIŒCIA POLYANDRIA. Nine Stamens. One Style, or Male and Female Flowers on different Plants. Stamens more than Seven.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx nullus. Corolla 6-partita, glandulis tribus germen cingentibus. Filamenta interiora glandulifera. Drupa 1-sperma.
Cup none. Blossom 6-parted. Glands three, surrounding the germen. Inner filaments bearing glands. Berry dry, one-seeded.