254 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



SAPOTACE^B. 

 Chrysophyllum Cainito. 



STAR-APPLE. 



This tree, which is a native of the West Indies, is described 

 as bearing 



" Flowers which grow in small purplish bunches, succeeded by a 

 round, fleshy, smooth fruit, resembling a large Apple. In the 

 inside it is divided into ten cells, each containing a black, shining, 

 rhomboidal seed, and surrounded by a white or sometimes purplish 

 gelatinous pulp, of a very sweet, agreeable flavour. When cut 

 across, the seeds, which are regularly disposed round in the axis of 

 the fruit, present a stellate figure, from whence the name of Star- 

 apple is derived." * 



This is evidently not the tree which exists in the Government 

 Botanic Garden under the above name, and which bears small 

 yellowish-white flowers, and about the middle of February a fruit 

 of the size, colour, and form of a Damson or ripe Kuronda, of a 

 shining purplish-black colour, with a stone in the centre. It has 

 a juicy insipid sweetness when fresh gathered from the tree ; 

 but when dried a short time in the sun it has a very agreeable 

 flavour, much resembling that of dried Cherries. This seems to 

 correspond in every respect with the species called Chryso- 

 phyllum oliviforme, " The Damson Star-apple." 



These trees are cultivated much for the beauty of their leaves, 

 which have on their lower sides (as the name of the plant 

 denotes) a bright golden metallic lustre. 



Lucuma mammosa. 



MAMMEE-SAPOTA AMERICAN MARMALADE. 



Don says of this tree that it is a 



"Native of South America; bears a large oval or top-shaped 

 fruit, covered with a brownish, rough skin, under which is a soft 

 pulp of a russet colour, very luscious, which is called natural mar- 

 malade, from its likeness to marmalade of Quinces. It is cultivated 

 much in the West Indies and South America for its fruit." 



Dr. Voigt states that it was introduced from China into the 

 Calcutta Botanical Garden in 1807, but had not flowered up to 

 1814. It is not in existence there now. 



* ' Penny Cyclopaedia.' 



