GREENHEART, or BEBEERU (Nectandra Bodice). A valuable timber-tree. of the natural order Lauracca., a native of Guiana, which also yields a medicinal bark. The timber is commonly called greenheart; the bark is better known as bet:ecru (otherwise beebeery, hibiru, bibiri, etc., and sipiri or sipeira) ; and the alkaloid to which it chiefly owes its properties is called beberinc. This alkaloid, the formula of which is may be obtained from the bark in the form of brown scales that are sparingly soluble in water and in alcohol, and have a strong, bitter taste. But although its chemical formula is accepted, it is probably not a single compound. but a mix ture. The tree grows chiefly in British Guiana, and in the greatest perfection on the low hills immediately behind the alluvial lands; it rises with an erect, slightly tapering trunk to a height of 40 or 50 feet without a branch, attaining a height of 80 or 90 feet in all and a diameter of 3. or even 4, feet. The leaves are thick, oblong elliptical, and shining; the flowers, yellowish white, in axillary clusters; the fruit, which is about the size of a small apple, contains a single seed, about as large as a walnut. The fruit is intensely bitter, but contains a form of starch used as food by the natives. The wood is ex
tremely strong and hard, and is exported to be used chiefly by turners for the same purposes as lignum vita;, like which it sinks in water. It is also remarkable for its durability, for being al most exempt from the attacks of the white ants on land and of the teredo in water, and for the high polish it will take. It is used in Guiana for ship-building, and for all the most important purposes for which timber is required. The bark is hard, heavy, and brittle, has a grayish brown epidermis, and is of a bright cinnamon color within. It has a very bitter, somewhat astringent taste. Its tonic and febrifugal prop erties resemble those of cinchona bark, although less reliable as an anti-periodic. The bark, as well as its alkaloid, is seldom used in medicine. A second alkaloid, neetandrine, found in the bark, has somewhat similar properties. South Ameri ca produces a number of species of Nectandra. Xectandra puchury major and minor yield the seeds called pitchurim beans, which are astrin gent, are regarded as febrifugal, and are pre scribed in dysentery, diarrhoea, etc., and the oil of which is used as a substitute for chocolate.