414 THE SAPODILLA FAMILY. 



pedicels. On both surfaces its leaves are smooth. Nearly or quite so, also, 

 are the pedicels and calyxes. 



B. ie7tax, a much rarer plant than either of the two preceding ones, inhabits 

 mostly dry soil. Near Jacksonville, Florida, it is found in thickets. On their 

 lower surfaces the oblanceolate leaves are covered with golden brown hairs, 

 while the flower-clusters, which although abundant are not conspicuous, 

 show also this feature. 



THE EBONY FAMILY. 



EbendcecB, 



PERSIMMON. DATE=PLUn. 



Diospyros Virginmna. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Ebony. Crorun : round; 20 to 60 feet Florida and May, June. 



branches spreading^ or higgler. Texas to Fruit: September- 



or pendulous. Neiv York. November. 



Bark : almost black, or tinged with red ; rough, astringent. Leaves : three to 

 five inches long, or smaller ; simple ; alternate with pubescent petioles, broadly- 

 lanceolate or oval, pointed at the apex and pointed, rounded, or cordate at the 

 base; dark green and lustrous above ; pale and dull underneath; thick; ciliate 

 and when young, pubescent. Flowers : small ; greenish yellow ; the staminate ones 

 mostly clustered, the pistillate ones mostly solitary, axillary. Calyx : four-parted. 

 Corolla : ht\\-s\i2i\>td; four-cleft. Fruit: globose; almost sessile; when green 

 astringent; becoming sweet, especially after exposure to frost; persistent until the 

 beginning of winter. 



As familiar indeed to the country boy as to the botanist is the persimmon, 

 and in his wanderings he can pretty well follow its course throughout his 

 locality. When its fruit is ripe, it is to him an especially interesting find ; 

 for when had he ever a mouth too weary to crowd it with anything so 

 luscious and sweet ? Not only in the woods and thickets is it found, but 

 sometimes it takes possession of worn-out farm lands. Besides valuing its 

 fruit, the people also know its inner bark to be possessed of astringent 

 and tonic properties which they make use of in curing intermittent fevers. 

 A beverage they make from the ripe fruit is familiarly called " simmon 

 beer," and is pleasing to the taste ; but the brandy procured from the fer- 

 mented fruit requires much age to make it acceptable to fastidious palates. 

 The wood of the persimmon is useful in the manufacture of shoe-lasts and 

 other small articles. Even its seeds are roasted to use when coffee is not 

 available. 



