78 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
With reference to the vernacular nomenclature of the same trees, 
it seems necessary to insist on the fact that the name “chicozapote,” 
sometimes wrongly given as “‘zapote chico,’”’ as applied to the sapo- 
dilla, is not intended as a counterpart of “zapote grande,” an expres- 
sion used rarely, if at all, in connection with Calocarpum mammosum. 
“‘Chicozapote”’ is simply a modern form of the Nahuatl name “ tzico- 
zapotl”’, or “gum zapote”’, still used by the native Indians of Mexico. 
This term, “chicozapote,” besides, is known only in the restricted 
northwest end of the natural range of Achras zapota and “nispero” isa 
name of much more general use, borrowed from the Castilian denomi- 
nation for Mespilus germanica. On the other hand, I do not remem- 
ber ever having heard the expression “‘zapote grande” used by the 
natives of Mexico and Guatemala, “zapote” being the name of the 
fruit all over the natural territory of the species, while in the countries 
where it has been introduced it has generally been compared with and 
named after the mamey or mammee (Mammea americana). 
The spelling of the native name “zapote,” as used by Mr. Cook 
and authorized by the more recent English dictionaries, is not exempt 
from criticism. Following the rules of derivation, the z initial should 
be preserved. That “zapote” proceeds from the Nahuatl “tzapotl” 
is not a mere supposition, but a well-established fact. In passing to 
the Spanish language, it has dropped the initial “t,” in accordance 
with one of its universally adopted rules. ‘‘Zapote” is a Spanish word, 
figuring in Spanish dictionaries, and as such its original spelling 
should be respected. ‘Sapodilla”’ is an English name derived from 
“‘zapotillo.” It is unfortunate that the word was originally mis- 
spelled, but a mistake once made is no reason for a repetition. As 
Mr. Cook further observes, “sapodilla” has only a limited use, and 
that is why I prefer “zapotillo,” which is currently applied to sev- 
eral species of the same family. 
Achras zapota L. Sp. Pl. 1190. 1753. Puates 46, 47. 
Achras sapota L. Sp. Pl. ed. 2. 1: 470. 1762. ; 
Achras zapota zapotilla Jacq. Stirp. Amer. 57. 1763. 
Sapota achras Mill. Gard. Dict. ed. 8. no. 1. 1768. 
Sapota zapotilla Coville, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 9: 369. 1905. 
A portly tree reaching to 20 meters and over when fully grown. Trunk either 
short and dividing into several secondary axes or undivided to the top. Main limbs 
horizontal or drooping. Crown rounded or elongate, richly foliated. Bark brownish, 
lactescent, more or less furrowed longitudinally. Terminal branchlets rather thick, 
with a grayish or ferruginous, filmy surface, covered with leaf scars. 
Leaves petiolate, coriaceous, clustered at the ends of the branchlets. Petioles 1 to 
2.5 cm. long, rather slender, sometimes glabrous, more usually more or less covered 
with a filmy down. Leaf blades 5 to 14 cm. long, 2.5 to 5 cm. broad, ovate-elliptic to 
elliptic-lanceolate, rounded-cuneate at the base, more or less obtuse and emarginate 
at the tip, dark green above and paler beneath, perfectly glabrous at the mature stage 
but covered beneath when young with a ferruginous film; main rib salient below, the 
venation parallel and close, scarcely distinct; margin smooth. Stipules none. 
