flowers smaller than those of our European Bird Cherry, 
fragrant (Swartz). Pedicels bracteated at the base i 
bractee very small. Calyx-tube turbinate with five furrows, — 
orange-coloured within; teeth of the limb small, patent. 
Petals almost orbicular, waved, at length reflexed, with © 
scarcely any claw. Stamens twenty, spreading, inserted at 
the margin of the tube. Germen ovate, gradually tapering 
into a slender style. Stigma spreading. Drupe nearly | 
spherical, about as large as that of the common Bird Cherry, 
dark, almost blackish-purple: Nut of the same shape as 
the fruit, wrinkled, with a broad scar. 
I find by Lovpon’s Hortus Britannicus, that Crrasts 
spherocarpa was introduced to our stoves in the year 1820. 
No living plant, however, has come under my own obser 
vation : nor should I have deemed it deserving of being 
figured. in the Botanical Magazine, under these circum 
stances, slight as are its pretensions on the score of beauty, © 
were it not a plant, of which no satisfactory figure exists ; 
and which may at the same time be reckoned an ceconomr 
cal one. In the preparation of Noyau, probably several 
different vegetables are employed, which contain prussi¢ 
acid. A species of Bind-weed, the Convoxrvuxus dissectus, — 
abounds in prussic acid, and to that degree, as Dr. NicHol 
son of Antigua informs me, that “ if this medicine shall be 
found deserving of the high character which some pbys* 
SRNL Ped Pe Nn ips de EM Fee a nee ent, ORO RU UEC aN BN OEE SRE 
_ cians have bestowed upon it, it may become valuable in @- 
country, where the prussic acid cannot be preserved many 
days in a pure state.” Hence this is a frequent ingredient : 
in the preparation of Noyau. But we are natually led to 
expect prussic acid in plants of the Plum tribe ; and Dr. 
Swartz assures us, that the bark of the Prunus (Cerssvs) 
Occidentalis of the West Indies, on account of its peculiar | 
taste and smell, is used instead of that of the AMyepatus 4 § : 
sica (Peach) ; and of the P. spherocarpa, he says, that the 
kernel of its nut resembles in taste that of the Bitter Almont. 
Mr. Guitpine observes, that the bark, leaves, and kernel have 
the smell and taste of those of the Peach, and they are em 
pire by French colonists in the manufactory of Noy@ 
“his kind of Cherry inhabits Jamaica, and St. Doming® 
according to Swartz: and the Antilles generally, acco”, 
ing to Mr. Guitpine. Our drawing was nade in the isian® 
nt. If Spreneen be correct in referring “™ 
Prunus brasiliensis of Scuorr to this species, it would appe 
of St. Vincent. 
to be a native of Brazil also. 
Fig. 1. 2. Flowers. 
>, 3. Pistil, ; 5, Nuts | 
_ the Drupe ; nat. size, itl, meanited... 4. Denys, snbb : es 
