This tree is very common in all the lower woods, and rocky hills of Jamaica, where it grows without any care; and is chiefly propagated by the industry of the birds. For the berries, like those of the Piemento, Black Pepper, and other aromatic plants, grow soft and pulpy, when ripe, and lose all that pungency that is natural to them in the immature state: they are then greedily devoured by the wild pigeons, and other inhabitants of the woods, who disperse the seeds up and down in their dung. The tree grows pretty much like the Piemento, and seldom exceeds sixteen or eighteen feet in height; or is more than five or six inches in diameter. The bark is whitish, and warted; the branches pretty erect; the leaves smooth and oval, having the smaller end towards the foot-stalk; and the berries disposed in depressed clusters, at the extremities of the branches.
The bark of this tree is the Canella alba of the shops: it is a pungent warm aromatic, and would, doubtless, answer all the purposes for which most of the other species are employed; but it is too cheap to be so much esteemed. By distillation it yields a warm aromatic oil, which is often sold for, and generally mixed with, the oil of Cloves; nor is the adulteration any prejudice to the medicine.
The Latin description and synonyms printed under the heading are not transcribed. Browne follows Catesby in calling the tree Winter's-Bark; the Winter's bark of the older books is a different tree (Drimys winteri).