Purdieane. N. O. Tiliacez. 
TABS. DCXCV, DCXCVI. 
SLoaneA JAMAIcENsts, Hook. 
Fruit. 
(For a Description and Figure of a flowering specimen, see our 
preceding PLATE.) , 
I have ventured to place this fine plant in the genus Sloanea, 
as indeed hinted at by Patrick Browne, notwithstanding the pre- 
sence of petals, and the anthers opening by pores at the apex, 
and the one-flowered peduncles. Indeed the limits of the 
genus seem to be very little understood. My specimens of 
Sloanea dentata exhibit anthers opening by pores, and in other 
respects our present plant has a very close affinity with that. Mr. 
Purdie speaks of it as producing one of the hardest of woods, 
so hard as to turn the edge of the best tempered axe, and hence 
its name of Break-are wood, Iron-wood ; but it is not the Jron- 
wood of Lunan, which includes two plants, the Fagara 
says he saw but one tree; but he was informed “ it was 
_ pretty common in the mountains of St. Anne’s, and esteemed 
one of the best and largest timbers in the wood; though so 
— hard that it is found a difficult matter even to cut it down, 
from thence its common appellation (Brake-axe tree). The 
seeds are much coveted by mackaws and parrots, and the kernels 
are of an agreeable taste enveloped in a soft mucilage of ; 
let colour.” It is singular that nothing has been heard 0 
this tree, from the days of Patrick Browne to the present time. 
Mr. Purdie, however, in a recent letter from Jamaica, remarks, 
“I think it very unlikely that any bird should break or perforate 
__ these capsules to obtain the seeds, not only because of its ex- 
_ treme hardness, but from the well known instinet of the bird, 
 Tarely if ever allowing it to attack unripe fruit. I have 
_ ‘Rever seen the capsules perforated. As soon as the fruits es 
ripe, they burst open and exhibit the delicately flavoured seeds. 
hey then fall to the ground and appear imperishable, covering 
_ the ground for a great extent at all seasons of the year. 
_ _ Fig. 1. Young fruit. £2. Mature fruit, the capsule having 
burst. /f. 3. Seed, with its pulpy coat. f. 4. Section of ditto, 
Showing the seed itself; nat. size. Jf. 5. Transverse section 0 
1owing 
_ the seed. /. 6. Vertical section of ditto. £7. Side view of 
_ the embryo slightly magnified. 
