740 DiOECiA MONANDRiA. Pandamis, 



posed of numerous, wedge-shaped, angular drupes, when ripe 

 their larjre or exterior ends are detached from one another, 

 and covered with a firm, deeper or orange-coloured skin ; 

 apices flat, consisting of as many angular, somewhat convex 

 tubercles as there are cells in the drupe, each crowned with 

 the withered stigma, internally the exterior half of these 

 drupes next the apex, consists of dry spongy cavities, their 

 lower part next the core or common receptacle is yellow, 

 consisting of a rich-looking, yellow pulp intermixed with 

 strong fibres ; here the nut is lodged. J^iit of each drupe 

 compound, turbinate, exceedingly hard, angular, containing 

 as many cells as there are divisions in the apex of the drupe, 

 each cell is perforated above and below. Seeds single, ob- 

 long, smooth, adhering lengthways to a small fascicle of 

 strong white fibres, which pass through the perforations of 

 the cell. By far the greatest number of the cells are barren. 



J^ote, This plant is much employed to make hedges, for 

 which it answers well, but requires too much room. It grows 

 readily from branches which renders it rare to find the full- 

 grown, ripe fruit. The male is by far the most common, a 

 circumstance merely accidental, for I have seen some old ex- 

 tensive hedges entirely female, which must be owing to their 

 having been originally a female plant or plants nearest to 

 these places. It is the tender white leaves of the flowers, 

 chiefly those of the male, that yield that most delightful fra- 

 grance for which they are so universally and deservedly es- 

 teemed ; for of all the perfumes in the world it must be the 

 richest and most powerful. 



The lower yellow pulpy part of the drupes is sometimes 

 eaten by the natives during times of scarcity^and famine ; the 

 tender white base of the leaves is also eaten raw or boiled dur- 

 ing the same melancholy periods. The fusiform roots already 

 mentioned are composed of tough fibres, which basket-makers 

 split and use to tie their work with, they are also so soft and 

 spongy as to serve the natives for corks. The leaves are com- 

 posed of longitudinal, tough, useful fibres like those of the 



