148 Bulletin of the University of Texas 



off in layers. Leaves small, %'-2' long, leathery, entire, dark 

 green above, pale and hairy beneath. Flowers dioecious in 

 clusters or solitary. Fruit a globose, black berry %' in diam- 

 eter, with sweet flesh, and everal flattened seeds. 



In river valleys Texas and Mexico. The wood is mostly 

 heart wood, variable in color. It is used for tool handles, 

 curtain rings, furniture, pen holders, picture frames and canes. 



DIOSPYROS L. Persimmon. 



Diospyros Virginiana L. A medium sized forest tree 40- 

 50 high with spreading branches and thick, dark bark which 

 is broken into numerous small blocks. Leaves ovate to oval, 

 smooth, pointed, dark green above, paler beneath. Flowers 

 yellowish green, dioecious, the staminate and pistillate borne 

 on separate trees. Fruit fleshy, orange colored, one seeded, 

 very astringent when green, sweet and edible when ripe. 



In woods Connecticut to Iowa, Florida and Texas. The 

 heart wood is dark, the sap white. Sometimes used for mal- 

 lets and gavels. 



SAPOTACEAE Reichenbach. The Sapodilla Family. 



Bumelia Swartz. The Bumelias. 



Shrubs or trees with milky sap, entire mostly alternate, or 

 fasicled leaves and perfect axillary flowers. Fruit a fleshy 

 black drupe with one seed. 



1. Leaves smooth or almost so beneath. 



a. Leaves persistent 1. B. angustifolia. 



b. Leaves deciduous. 



(1) Leaves prominently net veined 2. B. lucida. 



(2) Leaves not prominently net veined.... 3. B. lycioides. 



2. Leaves densely hairy beneath. 



a. Leaves small wedge shaped at base 4. B. rigida. 



b. Leaves larger 2'-4' long, not wedge shaped. . 5. B. lanuginosa. 



1. Bumelia angustifolia Nuttall. Saffron Plum. A small 

 evergreen tree 20 high with reddish gray, fissured bark and 

 spinescent branchlets. Leaves obovate or oblanceolate-spat- 

 ulate, entire, leathery, persistent for about two years, 1'-!%' 



