and the fruit is eaten both pickled and raw. M. sapida, 

 Wall., is probably another variety. 



Descr. A nearly glabrous evergreen ramous shrub or small 

 tree ; branchlets slightly pubescent. Leaves crowded towards 

 the ends of the branches, three to five inches long, oblong- 

 lanceolate, subacute, tontracted into a short slender petiole, 

 obtusely serrate from the midrib to the apex or quite entire, 

 deep green above, pale beneath (in native specimens the 

 leaves vary greatly in size, form, and dotting). Male catkins 

 axillary, solitary, short, cylindrical, half an inch to an inch 

 and a half long. Bracts minute, glandular, the outer broadly 

 orbicular, obtuse, the lateral smaller. Stamens six to ten ; 

 fi 'laments very short, subulate; anthers broad, didymous. 

 Female catkins shorter than the male, fewer flowered ; outer 

 bract as in the male ; bracteoles more numerous, fleshy. Ovary 

 globose, covered with mamillary tubercles that are crowned 

 with a papilla, one-celled. Styles two, stout, recurved, ob- 

 tuse, grooved on the inner face; ovule solitary, pendulous. 

 Drupe oblong or globose, as large as a cherry or smaller, 

 deep red-purple, studded with mamillary tubercles ; flesh 

 soft, juicy, acid, of radiating soft fibres. Stone oblong, com- 

 pressed, covered with a coating of fibres that radiate through 

 the flesh. Seed exalbuminous. — J". J). H. 



Figs. 1 and 2. Female flower. 3. Ovary. 4. Male catkin. 5. Male 

 flower. 6. Stamen. 7. Transverse section of drupes :— all but 4 and 7 

 vnaaniUpA r 



magnified. 



