Pimenta officinalis

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Pimenta officinalis, Berg. (Eugenia Pimenta, DC.). Allspice. Pimento. Figs. 2949, 2950. Distinguished from the other species by the oblong lvs., 4-lobed calyx and globose drupe. Tree, 30-40 ft. high: lvs. 2-6 in. long; petiole 1/2 in- long: fls. 3 lines long: drupe 3 lines thick. Cuba, Jamaica, Mex., Cent. Amer. B.M. 1236 (as Myrtus Pimenta, var. longifolia). P. acris, Kostel., the bayberry or bay-rum tree is by some separated in the genus Amomis (A. caryophyllata, Krug & Urb.), a shrub or small tree in the W. Indies, Venezuela, and Guiana, from the dried lvs. of which (and probably also from other myrtaceous plants) the bay oil or oil of myrica is distilled: bark separating in shreds or plates: lvs. shining above, very aromatic. L. H. B. Pimpernell: Anagallis. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

1. REDIRECT Pimenta dioica