1139 



PIOSPYRUS Mabola 



The Mabola Tree. 



POLYANDRIA MONOGYNJA. 



Nat. ord. Ebenace^. 

 DIOSPYRUS. Suprd.fol. 6. fol. 499 



D. Mabola; foliis oblongis utrinque acutis subtis ramulisque senceis, 

 fasciculis florum racemosis multifloris, corollis dodecandris, antheris 

 didymis. 



D. Mabola, JRoxb. Hort. Bengh. p. 41. 



Cavanillea Philippensis. Desrousseaux in Encyc, metk. suppL 3. p. 663, 

 . t. 454. 



Frutex orgyalis, verosimiliter in locis natalibus arbor mediocriSy parci 

 ramosus, vix ramnlosns, ligno ferreo. Rami patentes, cinereiy pubescentes. 

 Folia alterna, oblonga^ utrinque acuta^ undulata^ 7 uncias longa^ 3 /a/a, 

 atroviridia, subtHs sericea, aurolentay petiolis crassis^ semiteretibus^ brevibus. 

 Flores diotci^ in fasciculis S-l-fioris, raceynosis, pedunculatis ordinati, odora- 

 tissimi. Calyx subrotundus, A-partituSy sericeus, pedicello bracteis ovatiSf 

 sericeisy arct^ appressis imbricato. ' Corolla monopetala, suburceolata, ochro- 

 leuca, sericea^' limbo revoluto quadrijidoy laciniis ovatis^ contortim imbri- 

 catis. Stamina hypogyna^ 12, distincta, tubo brevioraf Jilamentis rigidis^ 

 Jiliformibus y apice JurcatiSy furcis anticis posticisque utrdque antherifera. 

 Antherag connective camoso, subulatOy valvis linearibtcs^ lateralibus, septula 

 medio distincto, Rudimentum ovarii villosum. 





This fine plant is the produce of a fruit called Mabola 

 in the Philippine Islands. It is reported to be a middle- 

 sized tree, producing a hard, compact, excessively black, 

 kind of ebony. The fruit is described as covered with a 

 thick, bright brown coat, which encloses a pink or rose- 

 coloured flesh ; it is about 4 inches in diameter, and is 

 something like a large quince. Its flavour is said to be 

 agreeable, and its qualities wholesome; the pulp is firm 

 and white, but the blade of a knife colours it black. The 

 tree prefers moist stations, and resists successfully the 

 eff*ects of excessive heat or violent storms. It has been 



