208 VEGETATION 



REYNOSIA SEPTENTRIONALIS Urban (Darling Plum, Dorlin Plum). 



A small tree or shrub with hard and heavy wood. The fruit is about the 

 size of a plum, blue-black in color, and of a pleasant taste when fully ripe. The 

 first account of this plant was by Catesby, who found it on New Providence, 

 and figured it under the name of " Bullet-bush." It is plentiful on New 

 Providence and most of the other islands, and is also found in southern 

 Florida, Cuba and the Virgin Islands. (Jessup Coll.) 



CHRYSOBALANUS ICACO L., and CHRYSOBALANUS FELLOCARPUS Meyer 

 (Cocoa Plum, Pigeon Plum). 



Plate XLIII, Fig. 1. 



There are two forms of the cocoa plum, the one with light pink, the 

 other with black fruit. Until recently these were both included under C. icaco 

 L., but the black-fruited form is now known as C. fellocarpus Meyer. Both 

 forms are abundant along the shores of most of the islands, and they often 

 grow together. The wood is heavy and strong, but is little used. The plant 

 is usually of shrubby growth, but a specimen of the black-fruited variety 25 

 feet high was seen on Watlings Island. The fruit is the size of a large plum 

 and makes a very good preserve. It may also be eaten raw, but is astringent 

 unless perfectly ripe. It was a favorite fruit with the Carib Indians. The 

 seeds are also edible. They are very oily, and Sargent says that strung on 

 sticks they are used as candles by the natives. The astringent root and bark 

 are of medicinal value. The cocoa plum occurs in southern Florida and is 

 widely distributed in tropical countries. (Jessup Coll.) 



COCCOLOBIS UVIFERA (L.) Jacq. (Sea-grape). 



Plate XLII, Fig. 2. 



A scrubby tree of contorted growth found along sandy beaches on all of 

 the Islands. The fruit is borne in long grape-like clusters, and, though 

 astringent, is edible when quite ripe. The wood is hard, takes a good polish, 

 and is sometimes used in cabinet-making. Found also in southern Florida 

 and in most of tropical America. (Jessup Coll.) 



HYPELATE TRIFOLIATA Sw. (Red-wood, Ebony). 



A small tree generally, but reaching a height of 40 feet on Andros. 

 This is not the true Ebony and the wood is not used, but the fruit is said by 

 Sargent to possess a sweet and rather agreeable flavor. It occurs on New Provi- 

 dence, Andros and Long Island, and is also found in southern Florida, Cuba 

 and Jamaica. (Jessup Coll.) 



