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90. Mammea Americana, L. — Mammee Tree. 



Mammee trees grow in most woodlands, to a great thick- 

 ness and height. The outer bark is rough and brown : the 

 leaves are many, broad, smooth, shining, and of a deep-green 

 colour. In June and July the tree puts forth blossoms, whose 

 petals are white, the antherae are yellow, and are divided in- 

 to four equal parts ; when these drop, they leave one style 

 on the germen. 



The fruit called the Mammee Apple, is as large as a man's 

 head ; the external covering is rough, and of the colour of a 

 winter pear. The rind is two inches thick, of the colour, and 

 not unlike the taste, of the carrot ; some people are fond of 

 eating this fruit, which contains two rough brown woody nuts. 

 The wild hogs of this country greedily eat of it. 



It is dangerous to suffer this tree to grow near settlements, 

 or by the road-side, for should its heavy fruit fall on man 

 or beast, it would assuredly break their bones, or kill them 

 on the spot. 



On chopping the tree, a thick yellow gum or balsam oozes 

 out. This being melted with fat cures the itch> and prevents 

 the chigres in Negroes' feet. A decoction of the bark is equal- 

 ly efficacious in the cure of the itch, but it is said to tan the 

 skin of white people, and is therefore only in use amongst the 

 Negroes. 



Mammee gum tastes hot and acrid, and is said to be pos- 

 sessed of strong attenuating powers ; but this seems to be 

 doubtful, as the decoction of the bark is a dangerous poison; 

 and a gentleman who washed a flock of mangy sheep with it 

 blinded every one of them instantly. 



