76 



In some regions it is deciduous, but in Hawaii all the species are 

 evergreen. The leaves are thin, ovate oblong, often asym- 

 metrical; slightly hairy on both sides; pale green, and minutely 

 punctate. Like the other species, the leaves are malodorous 

 when bruised. The flowers are greenish, fragrant, about an 

 inch long, and closely resemble those of reticulata. They occur 

 in clusters of one to three, opposite the leaves, on slender pedicels. 

 The sepals are small; the exterior petals greenish, white inside, 

 with a purple blotch at the base; the inner petals inconspicuous. 



The fruit is three or four inches in diameter; spheroid or heart- 

 shaped, and somewhat resembles an artichoke. In color it is 

 greenish yellow, sometimes shaded with pink or purple. Each 

 carpel is free and protuberant, forming a squamose or tuberculate 

 surface. The loosely cohering carpels are rounded at the end, 

 and grooved on the inner side. The exterior is covered with an 

 easily rubbed glaucous bloom; the fruit is tender and turns black 

 in spots when handled. The flesh is creamy-white, sweet, 

 custard-like, and \-ery delicious. There is a very slight trace of 

 fiber. There are numerous small, dark-brown seeds, as in the 

 other species. The fruit is always used uncooked, and makes 

 delicious sherbets. Unlike the custard-apple, the sweet-sop 

 fruits several times a year. 



In the West Indies the leaves, unripe fruits, and seeds are 

 often powdered and mixed with flour of gram {Cicer arietinum) 

 for use as a vermifuge; this use is not known in Hawaii. The 

 fruits rarely appear on the markets in Honolulu, although the 

 tree is by no means uncommon. 



In conclusion mention may be made of two very fine, but little 

 known annonaceous fruits, that should become known to fruit- 

 growers in Hawaii and other tropical portions of the United 

 States. RoUinia orthopetaJa A. DC, the biriba, and R. emarginata 

 Schlecht, the mirim, both of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentine, 

 are trees bearing very delicious large fruits. Those of the biriba 

 attain a diameter of six or eight inches, and have been pronounced 

 to be the finest annonaceous fruit of tropical America. They are 

 practically unknown in North x'\merican markets. 



As progress is made in our knowledge of tropical botany and 



