153 



laurel. The flowers liave a great number of 

 stamina, and produce a fruity which, in size and 

 tastr, has some similarity tolhc peach ; the out- 

 side skin is vidlowish and the pulp sweet, and 

 usuilly contains one or two kernels of an irre- 

 g'lilar shape. Two kinds of lucuma are cul- 

 tivated the lucuma Wfera and the turlnnata. 

 The bifera bears twice a year, early in summer 

 and in autumn ; but the autumnal fruits alone 

 produce kernels ; these are two, and have the 

 appearance of chesnuts. The fruit is round and 

 a little sloped, but less so than that of the tur- 

 binata^ which lias tlie form of a whipping-top. 

 No< withstanding both these fruits ripen upon 

 the tree, it is ncccssarv to keep them some time 

 in straw, which ameliorates them and corrects 

 their natural roughness, and by this means they 

 acquire that pleasant taste which renders them 

 so much esteemed. 



Of the wild lucuma tliree species are known 

 in Chiii by the names of helloia, keulc, and 

 dm guar. 



Tlie hdlota (Ir.cuina YalparaidisPa) grows in 

 great quantities in the environs of Valparaiso^ 

 and is distinguislied from the others by its leaves, 

 vliJcIi are opposite, and its round or oval fruit, 

 which IS tisually bitter. 



Tlie keidc (lucuma keule) which frequently 

 grows to tiie height of a hundred ^Gci, lias oval 

 I'U^es libotit six inches long and of a brilliant 



