CITRON-Wood, the wood of an American tree, called by the natives candle-wood, because, being cut into splinters, it burns like a candle. The tree is frequent in the Leeward islands, and grows to a considerable size: the leaves are like those of the bay-tree, but of a finer green; the flower is sweet, and much like those of the orange; the fruit succeeding these is black, and of the size of a pepper-corn. The trunk is so like the yellow saunders in colour, that there was once an opinion that it was the same tree, and much of it was imported into Europe, and sold as such; but they were soon found to be different; the saunders being of a sweet scent, and but moderately heavy and resinous: but the citron-wood considerably heavy, very oily, and of a strong smell. It is of no known use in medicine; but is used in France and Germany by the turners, being a fine firm-grained wood, and taking a fine polish, and with age becoming of a very beautiful brown.
CITRON-Wood
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