What is "canella alba"

Canella \Ca*nel"la\ (k[.a]*n[e^]l"l[.a]), n. [LL. (OE. canel, canelle, cinnamon, fr. F. cannelle), Dim. of L. canna a reed. Canella is so called from the shape of the rolls of prepared bark. See Cane.] (Bot.) A genus of trees of the order Canellace[ae], growing in the West Indies.

Note: The principal species is Canella alba, and its bark is a spice and drug exported under the names of wild cinnamon and whitewood bark.

Canella-alba \Canella-alba\ n. A large evergreen shrub or small tree ( Canella alba or Canella winterana) having white aromatic bark and leathery leaves and small purple to red flowers in terminal cymes. Its bark is called wild cinnamon.

Syn: wild cinnamon, white cinnamon tree, Canella winterana.