36 NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
has not been quite so fortunate as in the case of Myrsineacee except in so far as Sapotacee 
is concerned ; the relationship being apparently not less intimate eae Sapotacea and 
Styracacee than between Sapotacee and Ebinacee while the relationship existing between 
Styracacee and the Rhamnal alliance through Celastracee, seems barely made out in some 
points and is altogether wanting in others of equal or even greater importance, whence 
there is reason to infer, Dr. Lindley’s arrangement will not be adopted. 
This order furnishes some very useful products the Gutta Percha the most valu- 
able. The Sappodilla plum, a delicious fruit much resembling in taste a rich Jargonelle pear, 
belongs to this family. The Indian Eloopee’s ( Bassia) are variously employed, the stems, 
flowers and seed being all applied to some useful purpose, The stem as timber, the flowers 
as food and the basis whence a spirit is obtained by distillation, and the oil both for burning 
and as a substitute for ghee. The fruit of two species of Mimusops are eat by the natives, 
but not much admired and that of the Sapota here figured is pickled by the natives on the 
Hills. It much resembles in taste and appearance a small crab and is not likely to find 
many admirers unless it can be improved by cultivation and become like that of the Sapota 
Acras or Sappodilla plumb. 
SAPOTA—SAPPODILLA. 
Sepals 5-6 obtuse imbricated. Corolla tubuloso-campanulate 5-6 lobed : with as many epepetalous 
scales (sterile stamens) inserted on the tube alternate with its lobes. Stamens 5-6 opposite the lobes 
of the corolla below the scales: anthers extrose 2-celled dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary ovoid hairy 5-12 
celled. Style cylindrical glabrous. Stigma undivided obtuse. Ovules solitary in the cells ascending anatro- 
pus. Berry by abortion few or one seeded, seed nutlike compressed elongated ; the inner angle sulcated. 
Testa shining. Albumen fleshy. Embryo central, radical inferior, cotyledons foliacious.— Milky trees, bran- 
ches sometimes spinous : leaves alternate entire coriaceous : flowers axillary ; berry apple-like, often large, 
fleshy, eatable when ripe. 
This genus contains 12 species 3 of them Indian : three from Brazil two Australian one Mauritius 
one Philippine Islands one Guinea and one uncertain but all tropical except perhaps the last. 
1218. Sapota Extncorprs, (Al.D.C.) : branches A large tree with rough cracked bark, hence muclr 
often spinous, ramuli ferrugenio-tomentose : leaves covered with both parasitic and epiphytic plants of all 
acute at both ends, glabrescent, entire : flowers axilla- kinds. e flowers except from their number are not 
ry, few : pedicels the length of the petiol and like the conspicuous, and have no beauty. it i 
the size of a crab, and not unlike one agreeing more- 
er: over in the sour austere taste of that fruit. It is made 
the length of the stamens, the back and the margins ous : flo 
P 
ose.—D. cL. Prod. 8—176. extrorse: ovary hairy, 5 celled, with a single ascending 
Neilgherries, in almost every wood about Ootaca- ovule in each, three or four o which usually abort 
mund, in flower and fruit at all seasons. before the fruit attains maturity. 
ISONANDRA. 
Calyx 4 parted, the two exterior lobes large. Corolla 4 cleft or 4 parted, lobes in zestivation, twisted to the 
left no scales. Stamens 8 in a single series all equal cohering at the base with the tube of the corolla. Anthers 
Maetate, erect, 2 celled, extrorse, dehiscing longitudinally ; 4 larger opposite the lobes of the corolla, Ovary 
free, hisped, 4 celled (five, by a mistake of the artist, in the plate) ovules 4 ascending. Style exserted, glabrous 
Berry fleshy, one seeded by abortion, seed obovoid erect, testa cartilagenous, albumen copious, cotyledous foli- 
