CHAP. V. ANONA^CEjE. asi'mina. 293 



N 



Dcrimtions. Aslmina is Latinised from a word of Canadian origin, the meaning of which is not 

 known. Orchidocarpum was, it is jiroliable, intended to express a likeness between the tigure of 

 the fruit, and that of some species of O'rchis. Porccl<« is a name given by Ruiz, in honour of 

 Antonio Porcel, a Spanish promoter of botany. Aiiona is a South American word, that signifies a 

 mess, or dish of food, to be eaten with a spoon. Linna?us, in applying this word, says, "annona 

 [spelling it with two nsj and guanabanus are barbarous words ; that the sound, however, may be 

 kept, I name it Annona, on account of the fruit which is so grateful to the natives." {Hort. Cliff.) 

 This word, guanabanus, is a synonyme to Aiihna murickta, a stove plant. The German name, 

 Flaschenbaum, flask tree, is given from the shape of the fruit. 



Gen. Char. Cali/.c 3-parted. Petals 6, spreading, ovate-oblong, inner ones 

 smallest. Anthers numerous, nearly sessile. Ot'crrie? many, but for the most 

 part only 3, ovate or oblong. Carpels the same number as the ovaries, 

 baccate, sessile. Seeds many, disposed in a single or double row. (Don's 

 ]\Ii//., i. p. 91.) — Low trees or shrubs, deciduous, with white or pur- 

 plish flowers, and fruit about the size of small plums. Kather tender, and 

 difficidt of culture. 



Description. The plants, in their native countries, are shrubs or low trees, 

 varying from 2 ft. to 30 ft. in height. In this country they are, for the most 

 part, shrubs ; thougli there are specimens of A. triloba, near London, in the 

 Hammersmith Nursery, and at Purser's Cross, 10 ft. high. All the species 

 retjuire peat soil, and they are only propagated from imported seeds. 



Geographi/, History, $fc. The species are found in Virginia, Georgia, Caro- 

 lina, and Florida ; generally in shady places on the margins of woods, and 

 almost always in sandy soil. They have been introduced at different periods, 

 from 1736 to 1820. 



a 1. ^. PARViFLo^RA Z>M?2. The small-flowered Asimiua. 



Jdentification. Dun. Mon. Anon. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 87. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. yi. 

 Synonymes. Porcel/a parvifl6ra Pcrs. ; Orchidocarpum parvitlbrum .Vj-. 

 Engravings. Dunal Monog., p. 82. t. 9. 



Spec. Char. Leaves cuneate-obovate, mucronate ; under surface, as well as 

 branches, covered with brown pubescence. Flowers sessile ; outer petals 

 scarcely twice as long as the calyx. (Don's AlilL, i. p. 91.) This is a de- 

 ciduous shrub, from 2 ft. to 4 ft. in height. The flowers have the outside of 

 the calyx and corolla clothed with brownish tomentum ; and the inside of 

 the petals is of a dark purple colour. The berries are aggregate, sessile, 

 fleshy, of the size of a small plum. 



Gcograpluj, History, ^c. Found in Virginia, Georgia, and Carolina, in shady 

 woods near rivers and lakes ; flowering in April and May. It was introduced 

 into England in 1806, but is little known either in botanic gardens or nurseries. 

 In New York plants are 1 dollar each. 



at 2. A. tri'loba Dun. The ihree-\ohed-calt/xed Asimina. 



Identification. Dun. Monog.; Dee. Prod., 1. 87. ; Don's Mill., 1. 91. 



Synonymes. Annona triloba L., and ilx. in Arb. ; Porcfel/'a triloba, Pers. ; Orchidoc'irpum arietl- 

 num Mx. Bor. Am. ; the Papaw, Amer. ; Asiminier de Virginie, and Annone k trois L.obes, Fr. ; 

 dreylappiger (three-lobed) Flaschenbaum, Ger. 



Engravings. Mill. Icon., 1. t. 35. ; Du Ham., 2. t. 25. ; Mx. Arb., 3. t. 9. ; E. of PI., 7927. ; and our 

 Jig. 0% 



Spec. Char., i^c. Leaves oblong-cuneated, acuminated, and as well as the 

 branches, smoothish. Flowers on short peduncles ; outer petals roundish- 

 ovate, four times longer than the calyx. (Dun's Alill., i. p. 91.) A small 

 tree, densely clothed with long leaves, lying over one another in such a man- 

 ner as to give a peculiarly imbricated appeai'ance to the entire plant. The 

 flowers are campanulate and drooping, and appear before the leaves ; the 

 outer petals are purple, and vary in colour in ditfcrent plants ; in some being 

 very dark, and in others light, inclining to yellow. The berries are large, 

 yellow, ovate, oblong, and eatable. Tliey contain a yellow pulp, of a sweet 

 luscious taste, in the middle of which lie, in two rows, 12 seeds, divided by 

 as many thin membranes. All parts of the tree have a rank, if not a fetid, 

 smell ; and the fruit is relished by few persons except negroes. The fruit 

 ripens in America in the beginning of August, and is about 3 in. long and 

 Ir^ in. thick, oval, irregular, and swelling into inctjualilies. 



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