Byrsonima 



MALPIGHIACE^ 



221 



raceme in wbiich the flowers are often geminate, the pair some- 

 times springing from a single pedicel. Calyx persistent, with 

 10 large sessile glands. Petals yellow, red, or purplish, clawed, 

 blade roundish to kidney-shaped, 4-6 mm. in diam. Filaments 

 hairy at the base, more or less sliglitly united. Ovary 3-celled ; 

 styles 3, distinct ; stigmas acute. Drupe with a 3-celled stone ; 

 endocarp bony or woody, with sharp angles on the outside. 

 Embryo curled ; cotyledons linear, terete. 



Species about 100, natives of tropical America, including 

 the West Indies. 



Inflorescence tomentose. 



Bracts not more than 4 mm. 1. 



Pedicels of open flower over 8 mm. 1. Petals yellow 1. B. coriacea. 

 Pedicels not over 8 mm. 1. Petals rosy-pink. 



Leaves leathery, glabrous 2. B, Craigiana. 



Leaves papery, puberulous 3. B. Smallii. 



Bracts foliaceous, to 1 cm. 1 4. B. bracteata. 



Inflorescence glabrous or with a few silky hairs 5. B. glabemma. 



1. B. eoriacea DC. Prodr. i. 580 (1824); leaves variable in 

 shape and in presence or absence of hairs, elliptical, oblong- 

 elliptical to lanceolate, or sometimes obovate, apex acute or 

 obtuse or shortly acuminate, base wedge-shaped, papery, glabrous 



Fig. 74. — Byrsonima coriacea DC. 



A, Portion of branch with leaves and D, Fruit, nat. size. 



flowers X J. E, Fruit cut across x Ih. 



B, Flower x IJ. F, Seed cut lengthwise.'enlarged, 



C, Flower, with calyx and corolla re- 



moved, cut lengthwise X 4. (F after Jussieu.) 



