a height of twenty to twenty-five feet, and has an oblong fruit of 

 a light green color with white pulp and a few seeds. It is edible 

 and highly esteemed by some people. The sour sop or custard 



name is Anona muricata. It is also a native of tropical America 

 and attains a height of fifteen to twenty feet. The fruit is usually 

 two to three inches in diameter, and contains a somewhat acid 

 juice. 



In the gamboge family is the genus Gamma, native to the 

 East Indies and Malaya. From various species of this genus is 

 derived the gamboge of commerce, which is used in medicine and 

 the arts. In the collection will be found several species of Gar- 

 cinia. The calaba tree, Calophyllum Calaba, a native of the 

 West Indies, grows fifty to sixty feet tall. The fruit is drupe- 

 like, containing a single seed, from which is obtained an oil 

 which may be burned in lamps. In the mammee apple, Mammea 



The tree grows to be sixty to seventy feet tall and is a native of 

 tropical America. The fruit, which is highly prized by some, is 

 about the size of a small melon or cocoanut. From its seeds is 

 obtained an oil used by the Indians as a hair-oil. 



In the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, on the north side bench, 

 are a number of specimens of the succulent euphorbias. Eu- 

 phorbia lactea, from the East Indies, has three-angled stems with 

 the angles armed with short stout spines. This is widely dis-* 

 tributed in the West Indies and is often used there as a hedge 

 plant, growing sometimes twelve to fifteen feet tall. It forms an 

 effective barrier, for the natives exceedingly fear its juice, which 

 flows at the least abrasion of the surface, on account of its reputed 

 poisonous qualities, and the belief that if it gets into the eye blind- 

 ness will result. The hedge formed of this species is very dense 

 and absolutely impenetrable. A large plant will be found in the 

 center of house no. 6, near the giant cereus. Euphorbia Nivulia 

 and Euphorbia ncriifoiia, both from the East Indies, are quite in 

 contrast with many others of this group in having, at certain times 

 of the year, large fleshy leaves. Euphorbia Tirucalli, also from the 

 East Indies, is quite striking in its round stems, which much resemble 



