.510 Observations on the Great Cashew Tree. 



ed on a large, pyriform, juicy receptacle, which is of a bright 

 purple colour, and of the most delicious flavour.* The em- 

 bryo, cotyledons, and radicle are nearly the same as in the 

 meray, or common cashew. 



The leaves are scattered near the ends of the branches ; they 

 are smooth and shining on the upper surface, of a deep green 

 hue, obovate, entire, rounded at the extremity, narrowing or 

 cuneate towards the base, and furnished with short, channel- 

 led petioles. The branches are stout, and of a fragile, spongy 

 texture. The bark is very thick, of a deep red colour, astrin- 

 gent and slightly bitter, covered with a furrowed cuticle. — 

 The wood of the trunk is white, light, soft, and easily wrought, 

 not unlike deal, or the American white pine, although softer 

 than either of these woods ; it will furnish tolerable boards 

 and plank, and serves for canoes, but is subject to be bored 

 by the Teredo, and other species of worms. 



Common report says that this tree flowers only once in 

 three years ; this, however, is not true. It flowers every year, 

 regularly in the months of January and February, although in 

 moist seasons it is subject to the blast or blight. There is no 

 tree in the forest, I presume, that does not put forth flowers 

 annually. 



No tree affords a better shade, or a more delicious fruit, 

 than the one under consideration. The natives prepare a 

 most excellent wine from its fruit or pomaceous product ; and 

 it affords a rich and luscious harvest to a great diversity of 

 birds and other animals, particularly the pecarie and mypoo- 

 ne, (the bush-hog and the tapir), which the Indians say be- 

 come very fat during an abundant crop of this dainty fruit. 



Another species of Anacardium called "Mercy de monta- 

 nia" grows on the mountains of Paraguay and Pacaraimo, to 

 the southward of the Orinoko. This is likewise a tall tree, 

 but of more slender form than the oubudi ; its fruit and leaves 

 being similar to those of the latter. This mountain species 

 may not improbably be identical with Rhinocarpus of Hum- 

 boldt and Bonpland ; and if so, no good reason, I should 

 think, could be assigned for forming a new genus. May not 

 these eminent travellers have erred by overlooking the style? 

 For it is the deflection and lateral position of this part which 

 give to the germ the peculiar snout-like form, from which, I 

 presume, they have taken the name Rhinocarpus. Mistakes 



* Botanists will not admit the term fruit to be applicable to this anoma- 

 lous kind of receptacle in the Anacardium ; yet, as being a large, coloured, 

 sweet and juicy pomiform product, it seems most natural to consider it a 

 sort of fruit. Instead, however, of the seed being borne within, it is placed 

 upon, the pomum. 



