PLATE 378. 



CHRYSOPHYLLUM NATALENSB, Sond. (In Linnea XXIII. (1850) 72). 

 Natiiral Order, SAPOTACEJ:. 



A tree 30 to 40 feet high with smooth bark. Leaves scattered, petiolate, 

 exstipulate, often clustered near the ends of the twigs, the internodes very unequal 

 in lenffth, shorter towards the ends of the twigs ; the very young leaves thickly 

 ferruginous-tornentose, the mature ones green and glabrous above, very minutely 

 dull silvery beneath ; lanceolate-oblong, acute or obtuse at apex, tapering gradually 

 to the short petiole, quite entire, mid-vein conspicuous beneath, lateral ones 

 numerous but indistinct ; up to 5 inches long, by If to 2 inches wide ; petiole up 

 to ^ inch long. Flowers 1 to 3 together, sessile in the axils ; fine ferruginous- 

 pilose. Calyx 5-parted nearly to base, the segments ovate, obtuse, erect. Corolla 

 gamopetalous, 5-lobed, lobes ovate, obtuse, the tube a little longer than the calyx, 

 the lobes one-third as long as the tube, pale yellow. Stamens 5, opposite corolla 

 lobes, inserted on its tube and adnate to it ; anthers ovate, mucronate, 2-celled, 

 the cells dehiscing laterally. Ovary 5-lobed, shortly pilose, 5-celled. Style short, 

 obtuse. Fruit a berry (not seen). 



Habitat: NATAL: Gueinzius, 181; Berea, near Durban, 150 feet alt, Wood, 

 8950 ; without No. or precise locality, Gerrard &f McKen ; Inanda 1800 feet alt, 

 December, Wood, 732. 



This tree is found in the coast districts of the Colony. Fourcade confines it to 

 the North coast, and this is probably correct. The genus Chrysophyllum is so named 

 from the golden appearance of the under side of the leaves of many of the species ; 

 it includes some 60 species, natives of tropical and subtropical countries, but the 

 one here described is the only one at present known in Natal. The wood is used 

 by the natives for making the i-Tunga or milking vessel, and for other similar 

 purposes ; the fruit is about 1 to 1 ^ inch in diameter, yellow and eatable, it is 

 pleasantly acid when ripe, but has very little pulp. The native name is um- 

 Tongwane, but Oncoba spinosa, a very different tree, bears the same name. 



Fig. 1, a flower; 2, calyx; 3, corolla opened; 4, pistil; 5, longitudinal 

 section of ovary ; 6, cross section of same ; all enlarged. 



