REGARDING "ALLSPICE":
>>> Shane K. Bernard <skb8721 at unix.tamu.edu> wrote:
In 1811 Alexander de Humboldt wrote of Mexico that "The Myrtle
(myrtus
pimenta), of which the grain forms an agreeable spice . . . is
produced in the forests . . . of Vera Cruz."
I have reason to believe that this spice is known commonly today as
"allspice," or at least is related to allspice.
Does anyone know what is this myrtus pimenta (obviously a type of
myrtle) and if it produces a berry used as a spice identical or
similar to allspice?
REPLY:
My understanding is that allspice is dried fruits of Pimento dioica
(or P. officinalis) of the Myrtaceae. REF: V.H. Heywood. 1985.
Flowering Plants of the World. Prentice Hall.
John E. Silvius
Professor of Biology
Cedarville College
Cedarville, OH 45314
Phone 513-766-7948
silviusj at cedarville.edu
