West Indian Bay tree
Encyclopedia
The West Indian bay tree (Pimenta racemosa, called Pimenta acris or Caryophyllus racemosus in old references), also known as the bay rum tree, is a plant in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae
) native to the Caribbean
region. It is used to produce a fragrant cologne
called bay rum
; although bay rum is essentially rum
, the plant itself is toxic and renders the product undrinkable. The tree is 4-12 m tall and the white flowers, about 10mm wide, become black, oval fruits measuring 7-12 mm. The plants are now grow widely in other tropical areas, including Oceania
. The ideal conditions for P. racemosa are regular irrigation and bright sunshine.
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
) native to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
region. It is used to produce a fragrant cologne
Eau de Cologne
Eau de Cologne or simply Cologne is a toiletry, a perfume in a style that originated from Cologne, Germany. It is nowadays a generic term for scented formulations in typical concentration of 2-5% essential oils. However as of today cologne is a blend of extracts, alcohol, and water...
called bay rum
Bay rum
Bay rum is the name of a cologne/aftershave lotion.Other uses include as under-arm deodorant and as a fragrance for shaving soap, as well as a general astringent....
; although bay rum is essentially rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
, the plant itself is toxic and renders the product undrinkable. The tree is 4-12 m tall and the white flowers, about 10mm wide, become black, oval fruits measuring 7-12 mm. The plants are now grow widely in other tropical areas, including Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
. The ideal conditions for P. racemosa are regular irrigation and bright sunshine.