Peumus
(said to be the native name in Chili). SYNS. Boldea, Ruizia. ORD. Monimiaceae. A monotypic genus. The species is a small, greenhouse, evergreen, fragrant tree. It succeeds in a compost of sandy peat, and may be increased by cuttings.
P. Boldus (Boldus). fl. white, diaceious, disposed in terminal cymes, which are shorter, or scarcely longer, than the leaves; male perianth larger than the female, of ten or twelve lobes, two or three-seriate, imbricated. May. l. opposite, or rarely alternate, coriaceous, ovate-elliptic, acute, entire. h. 20ft. Chili, 1844. (B. R. 1845, 57, under name of Boldoa fragrans.) The leaves are used in medicine for the purpose of assisting digestion, &c. The fruit is sweet, and is eaten in Chili, and the bark is used for tanning.
