SAPINDACES. 
70 SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA. 
The fact that the fruit of this tree was used by the Caribs as a substitute for soap attracted the 
attention of early travelers in the New World. It was mentioned by Oviedo y Valdes’ in 1535, and 
has been noticed and described by nearly all subsequent writers on the natural history and products of 
the Antilles. 
It was first discovered in Florida by Dr. J. L. Blodgett. 
Sapindus Saponaria, according to Aiton,? was cultivated in England by the Duchess of Beaufort 
in 1697; it was early introduced into Senegambia, and is said to have become naturalized on some of 
the Cape Verde Islands.? 
1 Arbol de las cuentas del rabon, Hist. Gen. Nat. Ind. lib. 9, cap. 
5.— Nicolas Monardes, Hist. Afed. ed. Sevilla, 1574, fol. 105. — 
Clusius, Exot. lib. 2, cap. 16. (See also Joanne de Laet, Nov. Orb. 
lib. 5, cap. 21, 260.) 
Saponarie spherule arboris filicifolie, J. Bauhin, Hist. Gen. i. 
312. 
Nucule saponarie non edules, C. Bauhin, Pin. 511. 
‘‘Sope berries like a musket bullet that washeth as white as 
“‘Sope berries, the Kernel so big as a sloe, and good to 
(Smith, Zrav. and Obs. 55, 56.) 
“ De Varbre qui porte les savonettes.” 
Antil. ii. 165.) 
Nux Americana, foliis alatis bifidis, Kiggelaer, Cat. Hort. Beaum. 
31.— Commelin, Hort. i. 183, t. 94. 
sope.” 
eat.”’ 
(Du Tertre, Hist. Gen. 
Prunifera sive nuciprunifera, Plukenet, Phyt. t. 217, f. 7. 
Prunifera racemosa, folio alato, costa media membranulis utrinque 
extantibus donata, fructu saponario, Sloane, Cat. Pl. Jam. 184; Nat. 
Hist. Jam. ii. 131. 
Sapindus, Linneus, Hort. Cliff. 152.— Royen, Fl. Leyd. Prodr. 
464. 
The Black Nicker-tree, Hughes, Natural History of Barbados, 
118. 
Sapindus foliis oblongis, vix petiolatis, per costam ample alatam dis- 
positis, Browne, Nat. Hist. Jam. 206. 
2 Hort. Kew. ed. 2, ii. 424. 
8 Hooker, Niger Fil. 249. 
Sapindus Saponaria is said by Radlkofer (Sitz. Akad. Miinch. 
1878, 319) to inhabit Polynesia and the Philippine Islands. 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
Puate LXXIV. Saprnpus SAPONARIA. 
. A petal, enlarged. 
SOHOMDNATP WN 
ra 
Puate LXXV. 
A seed, natural size. 
Pm ooh ee 
. An embryo, enlarged. 
. A flower-bud, enlarged. 
. An inflorescence of the staminate plant, natural size. 
A flowering branch of the pistillate plant, natural size. 
Diagram of a perfect flower. 
A staminate flower, enlarged. 
. Vertical section of a staminate flower, enlarged. 
An anther, rear and front views, enlarged. 
. A perfect flower, enlarged. 
. Vertical section of a pistil, enlarged. 
SAPINDUS SAPONARIA. 
. A fruiting branch, natural size. 
. Vertical section of a fruit, natural size. 
