JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1914. 27 



37017 to 37028— Contd. (Quoted notes by Mr. Dorsett and others.) 



length, slender. Apex flattened and broad, crowned by the persistent calyx, 

 with four or five green lanceolate sepals one-half inch or more in length. 

 Color of fruit deep orange-yellow, when fully ripe almost bright orange. 

 Skin thin, tender, and easily broken, inclosing a soft melting pulp, bright 

 orange in color, very juicy, and of an acid, very aromatic flavor. The 

 aroma of the fruits themselves is very penetrating. The seeds, normally 

 one in number, but sometimes two, three, or rarely four, are attached to 

 one side of the seed cavity and do not adhere to the flesh. When single 

 the seed is nearly round, slightly less than half an inch in diameter, the 

 seed coat whitish. When more than one, the seeds are hemispherical or 

 angular. The season here is December. The trees which we have seen 

 do not produce as heavy a crop as the grumichama or some other myr- 

 taceous fruits, but nevertheless bear fairly abundantly. The fruit is 

 especially esteemed for making jellies and is also used for jams and 

 sherbets, while the negroes relish them when eaten out of hand. The 

 flavor, however, is somewhat acid when they are eaten in this way, and 

 the fruit will probably be of the greatest value for culinary use rather 

 than dessert. The pitomba should be tried in the warmest parts of 

 Florida and California. It seems to be vigorous and easily grown, great 

 numbers of volunteer seedlings springing up around the base of the tree 

 after the fruit has dropped." 

 For illustrations of the pitomba tree and fruit, see Plates IV and V. 



37018. Spondias tuberosa Arruda. Imbu. 

 " (No. 46a. December 26, 1913.) Seeds of the imbu, from fruits pur- 

 chased in the Bahia market. This tree is not common here on the coast, 

 but is said to grow profusely on the dry caatinga lands of the interior of 

 Bahia State. The tree is low and spreading in habit, with a dense, um- 

 brageous head of light-green foliage. The leaves are compound, about 6 

 inches in length. The fruits are oval to nearly round, about 1 inch in 

 diameter on an average, and pale greenish yellow in color when fully 

 ripe. The large, hard seed is surrounded by soft, juicy pulp, of a rather 

 acid flavor, much esteemed when prepared with milk to form the popular 

 imbuzada. For trial in California and Florida." 



For an illustration of the imbu tree, see Plate VI. 



37019. Ambukana cxaudii Schwacke and Taub. Umburana. 

 " (No. 47a. December 26, 1913.) Umburana. Seed presented by Mr. 



Gulins Frank, of Conquista,, State of Bahia. Said to be a large tree, 

 very common in the interior of that State. The seeds are aromatic 

 and are used by the natives to mix with tobacco." 



37020. (Undetermined.) 



"(No. 48a. December 26, 1913.) Fructa de sabao (soap fruit). Seeds 

 presented by Mr. Gulins Frank, of Conquista, State of Bahia. The ripe 

 fruits are macerated, put in boiling water, and the fat skimmed off as 

 it rises to the surface. The fruit ripens in August and September. The 

 fat is used in place of soap. For trial in California and Florida." 



37021. Cocos schizophylla Mart. Nicuri palm. 

 "(No. 49a. December 26, 1913.) Seeds of the Nicuri palm, obtained 



from trees growing on a hillside at Retiro, near Bahia. For a descrip- 

 tion of a related species, see S. P. I. No. 36927." 



