404 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



the fruit gathered from trees in the forest is preserved in tins 

 and sold commercially to a limited extent. The genus Platonia 

 contains only one or two species. 



The tree is described as large, with oblong, acute, leathery 

 leaves. The flowers are solitary, terminal, rose-colored, and 

 showy. J. Barbosa Rodrigues l says that the fruits are the size 



of oranges, bright yel- 

 low in color, with sev- 

 eral seeds surrounded by 

 white pulp. The flavor 

 is acidulous, sprightly, 

 and very pleasant. 



Jacques Huber of 

 Para, Brazil, writes: 

 "The bakuri is a hardy 

 tree with us and does 

 not require careful cul- 

 tivation. Cut down, it 

 springs up easily from 

 suckers which arise from 

 the roots. In Marajo 

 it is considered a weed, 

 difficult to exterminate, 

 especially in pastures 



near houses." 

 The bakuri is some- 



Fio. 51. The bakupari (Rheedia brasilien- 

 sis), a Brazilian relative of the mangosteen. 

 The skin is yellow, and the white pulp subacid , r , 



and spicy in flavor, (x J) times listed botamcally 



as Aristoclesia esculenta, 



Stuntz. In Brazil it has been offered by nurserymen under 

 the ^common name bakupari, which properly belongs to a 

 species of Rheedia. 



The tree is probably strictly tropical in its requirements. 

 It should repay horticultural attention. 



1 Hortus Fluminensis. 



