‖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 Canellaceæ, growing in the West Indies. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The principal species is Canella alba, and its bark is a spice and drug exported under the names of wild cinnamon and whitewood bark. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. a natural family having one genus: aromatic tropical trees of East Africa and Florida to West Indies. In 1913 the family was classed as an order: see canella.
Syn. -- family Canellaceae, canella family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]