Indian Lavender a highly branched small, deciduous tree. Leaves are camphor scented, compound with 3-9 leaflets, with lwinged axis. Leaflets have toothed margin with glandular hairs. Flowers are borne in panicles of both unisexual and bisexual flowers. Flowers are white, fragrant and 4-merous; stamens 8 with filaments dilated and anther lobes twisted. Floral disk is 8-lobed. Fruit is a drupe, reddish-pink when ripe. Indian Lavender is actually native to Mexico, but was believed to be Indian for a long time, as it has been cultivated in India for many years. Linaloe berry essential oil is mostly extracted from the berries and wood of the tree by the process of distillation. This oil produces a pleasing and aromatic odor resembling a mixture of lemon and jasmine. It is important in perfumery as the source of linalyl acetate, and is used as a substitute for oil of bergamot. Flowering: February-March.
