FLOILV OF THE ISTHimS OF PANAMA. 1S3 
fruit of this tree, G-uJnoa Grass {Paniciim jumentorum, Pers.), and Batatilla {Ipomcea varialilis, Cliois.), 
soon get fat. It is admitted however tliat tlie meat partaltes in some degree of the pecuHar apple-like smell 
of the fruit ; but this flavour is by no means disagreeable, and eaaily removed, if, for a few days previous to 
the killing of the animal, its food is changed. The tree produces its principal harvest during the dry season, 
when all the herbaceous vegetation is burnt up, and on that account its cultivation in tropical countries is 
especially to be recommended ; a few acres of it would effectually prevent that want of fodder which is 
always most severely felt after the periodical rains have ceased. 
Plate XXXII. l-^ig. 1, part of corolla and filaments; 2, stamen, magnified; 3, ovar}^ and style, mag- 
nified; 4, lower end of the fruit : — from a rough sketch taken on the spot. 
The genus Parmentiera is composed of three species, P. eduUs, Do Cand., P. aculrafa, Seem., both 
natives of Mexico, and P. cereifera. Seem. ; they are middle-sized trees. The leaflets of the young i)lanta 
are serrated, those of the old ones quite entire. The flowers are green or white, and, like those of most 
Crcscentiacece, grow out of the old wood. The fruit is cylindrical and fleshy, and the seeds not larger than 
lentils. The P. acuUata, Seem., is founded on a specimen in Hooker's Herbarium. It was collected by 
Schiede (No. 1207), and distributed under the name of Crescentia aculeata. 
780. Crescentia Cvjeta, Linn., De Cand. Prodr. vol. k. p. 246.-0. cuneifolia, Gardn. in Hook. 
Joum. of Bot. vol. ii. p. 423 !— Nomina vcrnaciil. "Palo dc turturaas" et "Calabazo." Common iu 
every part of tlie Isthmus, in sunny places ; frequently cultivated. 
Plants which, like the Calabash-tree, have been cultivated from time immemorial, arc apt to vary, and 
we can hardly give too much latitude to such species. I can find no specific distinction between C. Cujeta, 
Linn., and C. cuneifolia, Gardn., and have therefore united them. The characters assigned to each are not 
constant ; on one and the same tree specimens of both the so-called species may be found. The chief pomts 
which distinguish C. Ciijeta from its allies are its arboreous habit, its fasciculate leaves, and its woody fruit. 
The latter his such a hard shell that only an axe can break it, while that of C. cucurUti^ia is almost as easily 
crushed as an egg. In domestic economy the Calahash-trco is very useful. The hard shells of its fruit are 
turned into bottles, sieves, spoons, and various other household articles. By incision of the unripe fruit a 
sap collects, which is used by the people of the Isthmus as a purgative ; I also found that the sap dyes sUk 
black. 
w 
781. Crescentia cucnrbifina, Linn., De Cand. Prodr. vol. ix. p. 24G.— C. obovata, Bcutli. in 
Bot. Sulpli. p. 130. f. 46 !~C. palustris, Forsyth, Herb. !— Nomcn vcmaeul. " Calabazo dc playa." 
On the sea-shores both of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 
A common sea-side shrub, from 12 to 16 feet high, dlff-used over the West Indies, the central parts of 
continental America, and some of the islands in the Pacific. I have seen specimens from Jamaica (Purdie, 
Distin), St. Vincent (Anderson), Chagres (Fendler, No. 210), Island of Gorgona (Barclay). The shape 
of the leaves is very variable; the fruit is sometimes roundish, sometimes egg-shaped or elliptical. Ben- 
tham'a C, ohovata is in no way distinct from C cucurhitina, and I have reason to suppose, thougli want of 
materials prevents me from finally settling the point, that C. acuminata, H. B. K., is also a mere synonjon of 
C. cucurhitina. 
782. Crescentia aUta, H. B. K., Dc Cand. Prodr. vol. ix. p. 247. David, Veraguas; cultivated, 
and introduced from Mexico. 
This tree is about 30 feet high, and called in Western Mexico " Tecomate." Its fruit resembles in shape 
and colour an unripe orange, and contains a pulp of a souri.h-bitter taste, which is boiled with sugar in its 
native country, and taken against complaints of the chest. 
All Crescentia^, I am of opinion, are naturally littoral plants ; for, although they are not so closely eon- 
