''Pimenta racemosa'' is a species of plant in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae) that is native to the Caribbean region. Common names include West Indian bay tree, bay rum tree, and ciliment. It is used in cooking and an essential oil is distilled to produce a fragrant

cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and 3.6 millio ...

called

bay rum Bay rum is a type of cologne and aftershave lotion. Other uses include as under-arm deodorant and as a fragrance for shaving soap, as well as a general astringent. Origins It is a distillate that was originally made in Saint Thomas "and probabl ...

; although bay rum primarily refers to

rum Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak barrels. Rum is produced in nearly every sugar-producing region of the world, such as the Ph ...

, the concentrated essential oil from the fruit is toxic and renders the product undrinkable. The leaves as often used for tea purposes. The tree is 4–12 m tall and the white flowers, about 10 mm wide, become black, oval fruits measuring 7–12 mm.Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Myrtaceae: ''Pimenta racemosa''
(by J.W.Moore) The plants are now grown widely in other tropical areas, including

Oceania Oceania (, , ) is a geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern and Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of and a population of around 44.5 million ...

. The ideal conditions for ''P. racemosa'' are regular irrigation and bright sunshine.

Ecology

''Pimenta racemosa'' is widely introduced and can become an invasive weed.

References

External links

racemosa Plants described in 1933 Trees of the Caribbean Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Myrtaceae-stub