VENEZUELAN MEI^ICINAL PLAKTS, 311 
Mamei QIammea Americana^ L. ; De Caud. Prod. i. 561). The 
seed, ground and mixed with some fatty substance^ is said to cure the 
itch. It certainly kills the Pttlex penetrans^ L., for which KUchen- 
meister (^Parasiteu/ p. 455) recommends Oleum an'm. 
Mamon {Melicocca bijuga, L. ; De Cand. Prod, i, 615), The astrin- 
gent seed is seldom used ; the leaves are said to destroy fleas. Jacquiix 
(Selectarum Stirpium Americanaram Hist., Vindob. 1763, p. 109) 
gives the best description of the fruit, and the manner in which it is 
eaten. There is another fruit, called Cotopriz, distinguished from 
Mamon by a more elliptical form and a yellowish pulp, that of Mamon 
being somewhat reddish. Humboldt (Synops. iii. 421) refers this name 
to Mt/rtus erytliroxyloides, H, B. and K., and De CandoUe (Prod, 
iii. 2-il), speaking of this plant, says, " Flores fere, fruct. et sem. onmino 
igu." Humboldt gives the habitat of his Myrtus " prope Cumanara." 
But there, as well as in Caracas, Cotopriz is no Myrtacea^ but a true 
Saplndacea.^o^A^ allied to Melicocca bijuga^ L., and perhaps only a va- 
riety of that species. {? Melicocca olivceformi^^ H. B. K. Syn. iii. 165.) 
Mango {Mangifera Indica^ L.). Three varieties are known in the 
valley of Caracas : the large, green Mango, the Mango hilacjio (the 
most common form, called " Lilacho " because the seed is covered with 
strong fibres == hilos, which pass through the flesh of the fruit) ; and a 
small form without these fibres, called Mango bocado {= bit, on account 
of its smallness). Unger (" Botanische Streifzlige auf dem Gebiete 
der Culturgeschiclite," Wiener Sitzungsberichte, xxiii., January, 1851) 
is incorrect when he says (p.' 213) that the Mango-fruit has the form 
of ^walnut. It is of a roundish-oblong shape, flattish, sinuated at 
the sides and somewhat kiduey-shaped, 4" or 5''' long and 2" or 3'^ 
in diameter, Unger is again wrong in the following observation {loc, 
cit,)\ — ^"The skin of the fruit beiug peeled ofl', the latter is put in 
water to lose its smell and taste of turpentine." Our American 
Mangos have a very slight, not unpleasant smell of turpentine; but 
nobody eats them in the aforesaid manner; on the contrary, the fruit 
would lose by this process all its flavour and sweetness, and become 
quite insipid. A variety unknown to me, the Mango morado^ has most 
of the turpentine; the other varieties have a taste nearly like fresh 
carrots. The tree does not bear transplanting well, as it has large 
and but very few roots. The decoction of the dried skin of the fruit 
is recommended in pectoral diseases, on account of its volatile oil. 
