158 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



pines to siniguelas. In parts of Mexico and in Guatemala it is 

 known by the Aztec name jocote (xocotl) . The common name 

 in the French colonies is prunier d'Espagne, prunier rouge, and 

 mombin rouge, and in the British colonies it is sometimes called 

 Spanish-plum. Spondias purpurea, L. is a botanical synonym 

 of S. Mombin, L. 



J. N. Rose 1 describes a number of different forms observed in 

 Mexico. These races (perhaps species in some instances) 

 deserve further study. 



The red mombin is abundant in Mexico and Central America 

 from sea-level up to elevations of 5000 or 6000 feet. The value 

 of the annual crop in Mexico is estimated at more than $70,000. 

 The fruit may be eaten fresh or may be boiled and dried, in which 

 latter condition it can be kept for several months. When fresh 

 it has a subacid spicy flavor somewhat resembling that of the 

 cashew, but less aromatic. Some varieties are sour, and others 

 have very little flesh ; the best are pleasantly flavored and have 

 about the same amount of flesh and seed as a very large olive. 



In Cuba several seedling races are grown. They are usually 

 distinguished as ciruela roja, ciruela amarilla, and so on. In 

 Brazil the species appears to be little known. It is successfully 

 cultivated in south Florida, as far north as Palm Beach or 

 perhaps farther. Varieties from high elevations in tropical 

 America should prove slightly hardier than those from the 

 seacoast. No trees have been grown to fruiting age in Cali- 

 fornia, so far as is known. In favorable situations they might 

 succeed there if given protection during the first few winters. 



The tree is semi-deciduous. The leaves fall toward the end 

 of the cool season and are soon replaced by new ones. 



The character of the soil does not seem to be important. 

 Good trees can be found growing on shallow sandy land, on 

 gravel, and on heavy clay loam. A rich, moist, fairly heavy 



1 The Useful Plants of Mexico, contributions from the U. S. Nat. 

 Herbarium, V, 4, 1899. 



