AVOCADO IIOTITUS JAMAICENSIS. 37 



AVOCADO PEAR. LAURUS. 



Ci.. 9, OR. 1. Ennecindria monogynia. Nat. or. Hdsraccte. 



The name laurus is said to be derived from the Latin word lam, praise. 



Gen. char. ^There is no calyx ; the corolla is calycine, or serving in tlie place of 

 the calyx, and sexpartite ; the nertarium with three glandules, each terminated 

 by two bristles surrounding the gennen, the stamina are nine filaments, shorter 

 than the corolla, compressed, obtuse, and placed in threes ; the anthers adhere 

 to the edge of the upper part of the filaments, on each side, and there are twa 

 globose corpuscles affixed by a very short filament to each of the stamina of the 

 inner series, near the base : the germen is oval ; the style simple, equal, and of 

 the length of the stajiiina ; the stigma is obtuse and obhc^ue j tlie fruit a niono- 

 spermous plum. 



PERSEA. 



Prunl/era arbor, fructii ma.vimo pyri/onni viridi, perirarpio esru- 

 lento huti/raceo, nuckum unicuyn maximum nullo ossiculo tcctiiDi, 

 cingentc. Sloane, v. 2, p. 132, t. 222, f. 2. Foliis oblongo o-jutis, 

 fructu obverse ovale, peruarpio butj/raceo. Browne, p. 214. 



Leaves ovate, coriaceous, transversely veined, perennial, flowers corymbed. 

 Tliis tree, which is said to have been introduced into this island from the con- 

 tinent, rises to a considerable height, with a straight trunk, of wliich the bark and. 

 wood are of a greyish colour, the bark very rough and irregular. The leaves are oval, 

 transversely veined, pointed, of a leathciy substance, and of a beautiful shining greeu 

 above, and pale below ; wlion young ti>c\' are reddish or fiame coloured. The flowcr.'i 

 are produced in large corymbed knots or clusters at the extremities of the branches, and 

 consist each of six petals, disposed in the form of a .star, and of a dirty wliite or yellow 

 colour, with an agreeable odour, which diiiFuses itself to a considerable distance. The 

 wood of the tree is soft, and of no use. It is very subject, from its extreme brittleness, 

 to lose its branches in any high wind, and young trees are frequently snapt in two, they 

 however soon shoot again many suckers, whicli grow rapidly. Tliis tree is a native of 

 the West Indies, and easily propagated from the seeds. It begins to bear in three or 

 four years after planted, and sometimes even sooner. The fruit is pear-shaped, and 

 from one to two pounds in weight. On removing a green or brown skin or covering, 

 we come to a yellow butyraceous substance, interspersed with greenish veins ; and, in 

 the heart, fin 1 a largo roundish seed or stone, which is unequal on the surface, liard, 

 and woody. This fruit ripens in August, September, and October, and constitutes a 

 very agreeable article of food for tiiree or four months in the jear. With a little salt, 

 and one or two plantains, they afford a hearty meal to the negroes, and are introduced 

 at every table, being by many considered a great luxury. Few people, however, re- 

 lish them at first, but use reconciles them to the palate, and they soon become agree- 

 able. When ripe the seeds rattle ; and the yellow or eatable substance, firm, though 

 soft, parts freely from the external skin, it tastes somewhat like butter, or marrow; 

 d.nd\t is hence caWed the vcgefablc viarrow. It is so rich and mild that most people 

 make use of some spice or pungent substance to give it [loignancy. For this purpose 

 wine, sugar, lime-juice, but mostly pejjper and salt, is used. But, however excellent 

 this fruit ir, when ripe, it is very daiigcrous when jjulled and eaten before maHuity. 

 t)v. ^^''rigllt says, be has repeatedly known it produce fever and dysentery, which wei-o 



removed 



