184 TROPICAL FRUITS 



fruit, of the form of a lemon, with a smooth yellow rind and pale- 

 green, scented pulp. Kaffree or Kaffir Guava is distinguished by a 

 large warted and furrowed fruit, not unlike a Citron in appearance. 

 Apple or Red guava (P. pomifenun) is similar to the Pear Guava, 

 but differs in having a round fruit with reddish pulp. 



Psidium Guineense. Guinea Guava. A shrub, eight to twelve 

 feet high, native of Guinea. The fruit is described as "a fulvous berry, 

 red inside, about the size of a nutmeg, and of an exquisite taste.'' 



P. Cattleyanum. (See under Sub-tropical Fruits). 



Prosopis dulcis (Leguminosae). Algarobo-,Cashaw-, or 

 Mesquit Bean. A deciduous thorny shrub or tree, 30 to 40 ft. 

 high, with small bi-pinnate leaves, native of Central and South 

 America. The sweetish succulent pods, which are similar to 

 " Carob beans," are edible, but are chiefly used for feeding cattle. 

 Probably suited for the dry zone. Propagated by seed. The tree 

 has apparently not yet been established in Ceylon. 



P. julifera. Similar to the foregoing species. 



P. pubescens. Tornilla or Screw-bean. A small tree of 

 Texas, Mexico, etc., similar to the foregoing species in general 

 characters. 



P. spicigera. A small tree, resembling P. dulcis, native 

 of Northern India, where its sweetish farinaceous pods form 

 a valuable article of food in times of scarcity. They are eaten 

 green or dry, raw or boiled, with salt and onions, etc., and are also 

 used a* fodder for cattle. Suited for the dry zone only ; not yet 

 established in Ceylon. See under Fodder Plants. 



Punica granatum. (Lythraceae). Pomegranate ; " Delun " S. 

 Madalankai " T. A small ornamental tree, with large beautiful 

 scarlet flowers, native of Northern Africa and South Europe. It is 

 commonly met with in gardens throughout the East, thriving 

 especially near the sea, but also to some extent up to about 4,000 ft. 

 elevation. The fruit is of the size of a large apple, with a 

 tough rind, of a yellowish colour, tinged with red when ripe, 

 ( sometimes bright red or orange-yellow) and crowned with the 

 persistent calyx lobes. The succulent, juicy coating of the 

 numerous seeds is sometimes of a sweet acid taste, but often very 

 bitter and astringent. In the tropk^, the fruit is usually inferior to 

 that grown in its native country, and in some cases seems to 

 contain nothing but a quantity of closely packed seed w r ith a little 

 astringent juice. Superior varieties, however, occur in cultivation, 

 some being described as u almost seedless, very sweet, deliciously 



