Stderoxylon. | SAPOTACER. 435 
clustered. Calyx inferior, 4—8-lobed or -partite ; lobes imbricate. 
Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous, tube short, lobes as many or 
9-4 times as many as the divisions of the calyx. Stamens inserted 
on the tube of the corolla and opposite to the lobes, either as many 
or twice as many as the lobes, sometimes alternating with stamin- 
odia. Ovary superior, 2—-8-celled; style simple, straight; stigma 
punctiform, simple or lobed; ovules solitary in each cell, attached 
to the inner angle. Fruit a 1- to many-celled berry, frequently 
1-celled and i-seeded by abortion. Seeds often with the testa 
erustaceous and shining; albumen present or wanting; embryo 
straight, radicle inferior. 
A small order, widely distributed in the tropics of both hemispheres, but 
almost unknown in temperate regions. Genera 25; species not far from 350, 
many of them imperfectly known. ‘The order includes several species useful to 
man, the most important being the Malayan Isonandra gutta, which produces 
gutta-percha. The star-apple (Chrysophyllum Cainita) and the African butter- 
tree (Bassia Parkw) are edible species, and there are several others not so 
well known. The New Zealand genus is widely spread in tropical countries. 
1. SIDEROXYLON, Linn. 
Trees or shrubs, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves alternate, 
coriaceous, exstipulate. Flowers usually small, in axillary fascicles, 
sessile or pedicelled. Calyx-segments 5, much imbricated, sub- 
equal. Corolla subcampanulate ; lobes 5, imbricated. Stamens 5, 
affixed to the throat of the corolla and opposite to the lobes; fila- 
ments short or long; anthers ovate or lanceolate. Staminodia 5, 
alternating with the stamens. Ovary glabrous or villous,-5- or 
rarely 2—4-celled; style cylindric, short or long. Berry ovoid or 
globose; seeds often solitary by abortion, sometimes 2-5, usually 
oblong, compressed; testa hard, crustaceous or bony; albumen 
fleshy ; cotyledons flat, broad, often foliaceous ; radicle short. 
Species about 80, chiefly found in the tropical regions of both hemispheres. 
1. S.costatum, Ff’. Muell. First Census Austral. Pl. 92.—A hand- 
some closely branched tree 20-40fc. high; trunk 1-3 ft. diam. ; 
branchlets clothed with appressed pubescence. Leaves 2-4 in. 
long, elliptic-obovate or oblong-obovate, obtuse, narrowed into 
petioles $+-4in. long, quite entire, coriaceous, shining, glabrous 
except the petiole and midrib, which are finely puberulous, primary 
veins parallel, diverging from the midrib almost at right angles. 
Flowers axillary or from the nodes below the leaves, solitary or 
2 together, small, 4-4in. diam., polygamous; peduncles stout, 
curved, +-4in. long. Calyx-segments 4 or 5, broadly oblong or 
ovate, concave, ciliate. Corolla slightly exceeding the calyx, 
4—5-partite to below the middle. Stamens as many as the corolla- 
segments ; filaments short, thick. Staminodia subulate. Ovary 
4-5-celled. Berry large, lin. long, broadly oblong or obovoid. 
Seeds 1 to 4, but usually 2 or 3, almost as long as the fruit, smooth 
