Flora Medica

WINTERACEJE.WINTERA.Carpels baccate, many-seeded. Stamens thickest at theapex and having the cells of the anther separate. Calyx of2-3 sepals,or of 2-3 deep divisions.58. Wintera aromatica Murr. syst. 507. Drimys WinteriFont. gen. 84. t. 42. Aug. de St. Hit. Plant,t. 12. DC. prodr.i. 78. S. and C. iii. t. 178. Pereirausmlles,in Med.Gaz. xx. 177. fig. Winterana aromatica Soland. med.obs. v.p. 46. t. i. Drymis granatensis Linn.f. suppl. 269. DC.prodr. i. 78. Bonpl. pi. cequinoct. i. t. 58. Drymis chilensisDC. syst.t. 444. Deless. ic. select, i.t. 83. Straits of Magellan,Chili, Peru, New Grenada.An aromatic tree from 6 to 40 feet high. Branches scarred by thetraces of fallen leaves. Leaves oblong, obtuse, with a midrib, but otherwiseveinless, glaucous, and firmly dotted beneath. Peduncles axillaryor somewhat terminal, approximated, usually 1-flowered, simple ;occasionallydivided a little above the base into long pedicels. Sepals2-3. Petals 6, oblong. Fruits 4-6, obovate. The bark, calledWinter's bark, is aromatic with a warm and pungent taste. It acts asan aromatic tonic. Under the name of " Casca d'anta," it is muchused in Brazil against colic.Malambo bark has been referred to this genus, but upon insufficientevidence. (See Galipea.)