228 CALYCIFLORiE. 



petals being apparently the longest) : filaments subulate, com- 

 pressed: anthers small, yellow. Disk annular, crenulated, 

 purple. Ovary 3-gonal : styles 3 : stigmata simple. Drupe 

 oblong, six-lined, purple. 



This is a very pleasant fruit, of a sweet subacid taste, and 

 well deserving of cultivation. It is not liable to be infested by 

 insects, from the thickness of the rind serving as a protection 

 against their attacks. Confections and jellies are made from 

 it in the French Islands. 



3. Spondias graveolens. Common Hog-Plum. 



Leaves impari-pinnate, leaflets 5-8-paired ovato- 

 oblong acuminate with the apex blunt obsoletely ser- 

 rulated, petiole subterete, raceme panicled much lon- 

 ger than the leaves. 



Myrobalanus folio fraxini alato, Sloane, II. 125. t. 219. f. 1, 

 2. Spondias Mombin, Jacq. Amer. 138. Gcertn. de Fruct. II. 

 102. S. lutea, De Cand. Prod. II. 75. tfaj&y .&*&* 



HAB. Common. 



FL. May. 



A lofty spreading tree. Leaves at the ends of the branch- 

 lets, impari-pinnate: leaflets 5-8-paired, petiolulated, ovato- 

 oblong, acuminate with the apex blunt, unequilateral at the 

 base, obsoletely serrulated, glabrous, nerved and veined : petiole 

 subterete, puberulous. Racemes terminal, panicled, 6-12 inches 

 in length : peduncle and its divisions compressed, angulose. 

 Flowers numerous, of a yellowish white, slightly fragrant, 

 shortly pedicelled. Calyx minute, 5-fid, puberulous. Petals 

 5, oblong, reflected. Stamens 10, erect, length of the petals : 

 anthers yellow. Disk glandulose, yellow, 10- crenulated. Styles 

 5, short, appressed to each other. Drupe oval, yellow. 



A branch of this tree, made into a post, driven into the 

 ground, readily takes root, and is frequently employed in mak- 

 ing fences. The tree, being of rapid growth, and affording a fine 

 shade, is planted in pastures for the sake of the cattle. 



The fruit is called Mombin by the French colonists, and Jobo 

 by the Spanish. It has a rank smell, but an agreeable subacid 

 taste. It is seldom made use of; but is accounted an excellent 

 food for fattening hogs. Barham recommends an infusion of 

 the bark and leaves as a bath, followed by dry friction, in cases 

 of cedema. A reddish or dark brown gum exudes from the 

 tree when wounded. Hence, the young tops boiled in water, 

 from the mucilage they contain, may be employed for shaving, 

 when the skin is too irritable to permit the use of soap. Wa- 

 ter, like that from the stem of the water-withe, is said to flow 

 from the roots when divided. The wood is light, and capable 

 of being used as a substitute for cork. 



