284 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



secticide properties. The crushed leaves are sometimes applied as poultices 

 to ulcers and malignant sores. The root is a drastic purgative. 



The tree is described by Oviedo (Lib. YIII, Cap. XVIII) under the name 

 " hanon." Hernandez describes and figures* it as "abate de Panucho (Pa- 

 nuco)"; he also illustrates it,' without description, as "ate vel abate de Pan- 

 nuco." The English names applied to this species are "sugar-apple" and 

 " sw^eetsop." 

 11. Annona reticulata L. Sp. PI. 37. 1753. 



Annona longifoUa Sesse & Moc. Fl. Mex. ed. 2. 134. 1894. 



Cultivated in Mexico and in places doubtless native. Widely cultivated in 

 the tropics. 



Tree, 4.5 to 7.5 meters high ; leaves deciduous, lanceolate or oblong, acute, 

 nearly glabrous; petals olive or yellowish, usually stained with purple within 

 and with a dark purple spot at base; fruit 7.5 to 12.5 cm. in diameter, the 

 surface divided into angled areoles, usually reddish or reddish brown, the 

 pulp sweetish, insipid, tallow-like. " Quauhtzapotl " (Nahuatl) ; " anona " 

 (Oaxaca, etc., Nicaragua, Philippines, Guam); "anona colorada " (Chiapas, 

 Ramirez); " chirimoya " (Oaxaca, Costa Rica); "op" (Yucatan, Maya); 

 " ilama " {Alcocer) ; " corazon " (Porto Rico); " mam6n " (Cuba); " rinon " 

 (Venezuela). 



The wood is light and soft. The bark is said to have astringent and tonic 

 properties, and that of young branches to give a useful fiber. The leaves and 

 branches are used for tanning and are said to give a blue or black dye. The 

 English names are " custard-apple " and " bullock's-heart." 

 13. Annona lutescens Safford, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 41. pi. 23. 1914. 



Chiapas. Guatemala; type from Cahabon, Alta Verapaz. 



Small tree with spreading branches; fruit similar to that of A. reticulata, 

 but yellow. "Anona amarilla " (Guatemala). 



DOUBTFUL SPECIES. 



Annona excelsa H. B. K. Nov. Gen, & Sp. 5: 59. 1821. Type from La Venta 

 del Exido. Described from sterile branches. 



Annona liebmanniana Baill. Adansonia 8: 266. 1868. Type from Comaltepec. 



43. MYEISTICACEAE. Nutmeg Family. 

 1. COMPSONEURA Warb. Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges. 13:94. 1895. M 



1. Compsoneura sprucei (A. DC.) Warb. Nov. Act. Acad. Caes. Leop. Carol. 

 68:143. 1897. 

 Myristica sprucei A. DC. in DC. Prodr. 14: 199. 1856. 

 Myristica mexicana Henisl. Biol. Centr. Amer. Bot. 3: 67. pi. 73. 1882. 

 Tabasco. Honduras and Brazil ; type from Rio Negro, Brazil. 

 Glabrous shrub or tree ; leaves alternate, estipulate, oblong or obovate-oblong, 

 12 to 25 cm. long, subacuminate, bright green; flowers very small, dioecious, 

 paniculate or subracemose. 



Myristica mexica'na is considered synonymous with Compsoneura sprucei by 

 Warburg, the monographer of the group, but it seems probable that further study 

 will show that the Mexican plant is a distinct species. The type of M. mexicana 

 is from the banks of the Rfo Puyapatengo. 



' Thesaurus 348. 1651. 

 * Thesaurus 454. 1651. 



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