LANDSIA usneoides). Thence it has been introduced, I be- 
lieve by Dr. ANpERsoN, into the island of St. Vincent. If 
the tree is rendered attractive by the beauty of its flowers, 
which, moreover, are endowed with the most delicious 
odour, it is no less remarkable for the size of the fruit, 
whence, in conjunction with its form, the plant is called by 
the colonists the Cannon-ball Tree. ‘‘ The fallen peri- 
carps,” says Mr. Guitpine, “ which strew the ground and 
exhibit the scar or hole by which they were attached to the 
peduncle, so nearly resemble the cannon-shell, that one 
might easily, at first sight, imagine that a company of 
artillery had bivouacked in its shade.” If we may believe 
in the poetical language of M. Descourriiz, “ Flore Pitto- 
resque et Médicale des Antilles,’ the noise they make in 
falling affords an additional reason for the name: “ sous 
un ciel pur et éblouissant, la grace est toujours unie a la 
magnificence dans les scénes de la nature; partout, dans les 
mornes, des sources cachées dans la profonde nuit de la 
terre annoncent leur présence par un doux murmure, ou 
des eaux argentées qu’elles laissent filtrer entre les rochers, 
ou se dérober en gazouillant sous les gazons, ou les plantes 
qu’elles reverdissent. Lorsque le silence de la nature est 
mterrompu par les brises violentes qui, sous la zone torride, 
font souvent le désespoir du cultivateur, ou entend la crépi- 
tation des fruits du Couroupite, dont le balancement pro- 
duit un choc mille fois repeté, et semblable au feu roulant 
de la mousqueterie.” 
The Shell is used in South America for domestic purposes, as the 
Calabash. The pulp contains sugar, gum, malic, citric, and tartaric 
acids, and is employed to afford a refreshing drink in fevers; but, in the 
perfectly ripe state, Mr. Guitpine says, “ it exceeds whatever is 
filthy, stinking, and abominable in nature : yet the scent is remarkably 
vinous, and so durable, that on examining some portions of the fruit 
that had been preserved in rum for two or three years, the native odour 
of the plant was so strong, as to render the apartment almost insupport 
able. Insects revel in this disgusting and putrid pulp. CoLEoPTERA 
and Forricut feed upon it, whil ag 
hollow of the shells.” pon it, while the Formic find a shelter 1 
—<—<—<————— 
Tas. 3158. Portion of a Raceme of Flowers with a Leaf and Fruit: nat. 
‘Tap. 3159. Fig... Ligul sfehge 
sue id Grits Poa gule of Stamens spread open. 2. Section 01 \ 
Stam ak the Pistil and Calyx. 3. Stigma aa aura of the Pistil. 4.4 
CHAN sdatons etl eg of the Ligule. 5. Anther. 6. Stamen from PN 
Eee syrad the’ Pistil. 7. Pistil a little advanced, with the Calyx 
outer Cafieing yas ig 0 * yamaha Section of ditto. 9. Seed with? 
Seed. 12. Seed, with 13, Em re bursting open (from Porreav)- 
seh, eh ryo; 14, Embryo unrolled ; and 15, Embryo 
bdo we cut through to show their straciges (fron Porreav:) 
pf ts O15. nat. size ; the rest more or less magnified. 
