The Red Saunders Tree.
Santalum rubrum.
A tree, native of the West Indies, but of which we have seen nothing but the wood, and have received very imperfect descriptions. They say it grows forty feet high; that the leaves are small, but many, set near together: their colour is a dusky green; and their substance thick and fleshy. The flowers are like pea blossoms, and the fruit is a pod, containing three or four seeds. This is all we have been informed concerning the tree, and part of this by hear-say only.
The wood is used. It is of a deep red colour. It is astringent, and is good against violent purgings and overflowings of the menses: for the former purpose, it is best given in powder, in small doses; and for the latter, it is given in decoction. But it is not much used.
