4 ANONACE^. 



3 (valvate in the West Indian genera). Anther-cells lateral or extrorse. Endosperm rumi- 

 nate, including in its top the minute embryo. — Woody plants; leaves entire, without stipules. 



The Order has the same aromatic properties as the Slagnoliacea . The seeds of Monodora 

 (Calabash Nutmeg*) are compared with the Nutmeg. The wood of Xylopia is called Bitter- 

 wood : the carpida of X. jamaicensis were found bitter and aromatic by Dr. Alexander. 



The fleshy syncarpia of the Anoneae are devoid of aroma, but as eatable fruits they are 

 known as Custard-apples. Some of the most remarkable of these were indigenous in the 

 West Indian Islands, but are now cultivated hi all tropical countries; Anona squamosa 

 (Sweetsop) and A. muricata (Soursop) still grow wild in Jamaica; A. Cherimolia was intro- 

 duced from the Andes. The fruits of some Anona are not eatable : A. montana from its 

 dryness, A^ reticulata and A. palustris from their disagreeable taste. A. reticulata is, how- 

 ever, a renowned specific agaiust dysentery ; and the seeds of the different species are used 

 to kill vermin. In the fruit of A. palustris, which affords a choice food to reptiles and 

 Crustacea, a narcotic principle was believed to exist ; but this is denied by Martius. 



The wood of Anonacece is light and tough ; it is used for several purposes, especially that 

 from Rollinia and Oxandra (Lancewood), and that of Anona palustris (Corkwood) is a sub- 

 stitute for Cork. 



Tribe I. ANONEjE. — Carpels at length cohering and forming a cone-like syncarpium. 

 — The pollen in a number of species coheres in a peculiar way, so as to form moni- 

 liform pollinaria. 



1. ANONA, L. 



Petals 6-3, distinct. Stamens indefinite; connective produced beyond the extrorse an- 

 ther-cells. Carpids one-seeded, united in a fleshy syncarpium. — Trees or shrubs of Ameri- 

 can origin ; leaves more or less dotted ; flowers terminal or lateral, and opposite to a leaf. 



The specimens in herbaria afford no good opportunity for ascertaining the amount of 

 variability in the characters of species ; but I conclude that no reliance can be laid upon 

 the form of leaves, the size and colour of flowers, and not much upon the down. 



• Sect. 1. Guanabani. — Petals 6, the interior conspicuous. Leaves evergreen. 

 * Exterior petals pointed, scarcely exceeding the interior series. 



1. A. muricata, L. Leaves oblong, at length glabrous; exterior petals broad-ovate, 

 pointed, subcordate at the base, scarcely exceeding the interior, these rounded ; syncarpium 

 irregularly conical, blunt, areolated : the areoles produced into a fleshv, recurved spine. — SI. 

 t. 225 ; Jacq. Amer. Pict. t. 161 ; Tuss. El. 2. t. 24 ; Desc. El. 2. t. 81.—A low tree, 8'- 

 20' high ; petals l"-2" long, exterior yellowish or greenish, interior yellow or red ; syncar- 

 pium (6"-8" long) yellowish-green, often incurved : pulp white ; seeds black or yellow. {Rich.) 

 — Has Jamaica and Caribbean Islands!, spontaneously and common on pastures: [it ranges 

 through tropical America, but on the continent is perhaps only cultivated or naturalized]. 



2. A. montana, Macf. Leaves oblong, at length glabrous ; exterior petals broad-ovate, 

 pointed, tomentose, a little exceeding the interior, these rounded ; syncarpium globose, areo- 

 lated: the areoles produced into a minute, fleshy spiuule. — Plum. Ed. Burm. 1. 143./. 1. — 

 A. muricata, /3, Bun. — A low tree, 15-20' high ; petals 1" long, exterior greenish, interior 

 yellow, syncarpium (4 "-5" diam.) not eatable. — Hab. Jamaica ! : March, in woods ; Antigua! ; 

 [Guadeloupe!, Guiana!]. 



3. A. laurifolia, Bun. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, glabrous ; exterior petals broad-ovate, 

 pointed, subcordate at the base, a little exceeding the interior, these rounded ; syncarpium 

 conical, blunt, smooth and without spiues. — Catesb. Carol. 2. t. 67. — A shrub, 10'-12' high ; 

 petals 1" long, exterior greenish on the back. I have only seen an incomplete specimen of 

 this species, from Cuba, and the diagnosis is partlv supplied from the figure quoted. — Hab. 

 Jamaica, S. Ann's (M'Fab); Bahamas, e.g. Eleuthera {Catesb.) ; [Cuba!]. According to a 

 statement iu the 'Botanical Register' (t. 1328), this ranges throughout tropical America, 

 and the plant figured there was introduced from MaranhSo ; that figure, however, may be- 



•it i. TluJ ° rigia ^ thi3 P recious substance, which is imported from the Delta of the Niger, 

 will be discussed hereafter, and the attention of traders may be directed to this valuable pro- 



duct of Africa 



