Eugenia caryophyllus (Cloves)

Close-up of dried brown clove heads. A native of the Moluccas, or Spice Islands of Indonesia. Prized as a flavour in food, as a preservative, as a mild anaesthetic (particularly in cases of toothache), as an ingredient in perfume, even to mask stinking breath. In pursuit of Moluccan cloves and nutmegs, the Portuguese made local treaties as early as 1512. Clove oil is rich in eugenol.