Lindera
(named after John Linder, a Swedish botanist of the early part of the eighteenth century). Including Benzoin. ORD. Laurineae. A rather large genus (about fifty species) of trees and shrubs, natives of tropical and Eastern Asia (extending to Japan), and North America. Flowers dioecious, umbellate or capitate; perianth segments six, petaloid and often small; tube very short; involucre sessile or pedicellate. Berry globose or ovoid. Leaves alternate or almost opposite, penniveined or three to five-nerved, coriaceous and perennial, or slender and annual. For culture of the undermentioned hardy species-probably the only ones grown in gardens-see Laurus. L. Benzoin (Benzoin). Benjamin Bush; Spice Bush. fl. honey-yellow, in almost sessile, lateral, umbel-like clusters, appearing before the leaves, the clusters composed of smaller clusters or umbels, each of four to six flowers. March and April. l. oblong-obovate, pale beneath. h. 6ft. to 15ft. North America, 1683. SYN. Laurus Benzoin.
L. melissaefolia (Melissa-leaved). Jove's Fruit. fl. similar to those of L. Benzoin; umbels few. April. l. oblong, obtuse, or cordate at base, downy beneath. Young branches and buds pubescent. h. 6ft. North America, 1810. SYNS. Laurus Diospyrus (B. M. 1470), Laurus melissaefolia.