( 1779 ) 



PSIDIUM CORDATUM. SpiCE GUAVA. 



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C7«ss and Order. 



ICOSANDRIA MoNOGYNIA. 



Generic Character. 



Cal. 5-fidus, superus. Peiala 5. Bacca 1-multi-locularis, 

 polyspermia. 



Specific Character. 



PsidiuiM cor datum ; foliis sessilibus cordato-rotundatis utrln- 

 que glabris, pedunculis subunifloris aggregatis. 



Descr. A tree with straight rigid branches covered with 

 reddish brown bark. Leaves opposite, sessile, heart-shaped, 

 approaching to round, some quite rounded at the point, others 

 shortly acuminate, smooth on both sides, fleshy, and rigid. 

 Peduncles axillary, sometimes branched near the base, more 

 generally single, one-flowered, terminated with a minute 

 tooth-like bracte at its junction with the germen. Calyx five- 

 leaved : leaflets nearly orbicular, concave, green, rigid, 

 bursting very irregularly, in part deciduous. Petals live, 

 closely adapted to and as it were lining the calycine leaflets, 

 and, by the irregular bursting of these, frequently torn off ; 

 so that few of the flowers appear perfect. We have found 

 even four of the petals enclosed within one leaflet of the calyx. 

 A similar irregular bursting of the calyx may be observed in 

 other species of this genus. Stamens many : filaments short, 

 attached to the persistent base of the calyx : anthers white, 

 roundish. Germen inferior, fleshy, six-celled, many-seeded ; 

 taste aromatic and acid : style longer than filaments : stigma 

 simple. 



Communicated by A. B. Lambert, Esq. from his collection 

 at Boyton., who raised it from seeds received from the late 



James 



