SIDEROXYLUM, IRON-WOOD; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of
plants. There are four species; the inerme, the oppositifolium, the lycioides, and the tenax.
The wood of these trees being very close and solid, has given occasion for this name being applied to them, it being so heavy as to sink in water; and the title of iron-wood having been applied to the wood by the inhabitants of the countries where it grows, has occasioned the botanists to constitute a genus by this name. But as the characters of the plants have not been so well examined as could be wished, occasioned by their seldom flowering in Europe, it is very probable, that the plants which have been ranged under this genus do not properly belong to it; for Dr Plukenet has figured a plant under the title of ebenus Jamaicaensis, whose characters are very different from those assigned to this genus: and the Jamaica iron-wood is totally different from both in its characters, for this has male and female flowers on different trees; the male flowers have no petals.
These plants are natives of warm countries; so cannot be preferred in this country unless they are placed, the two former in a warm stove, the others in a green-house. They are propagated by seeds, when these can be procured from abroad.