THE NAVEL ORANGE OE BAHIA. 21 



under the trees when fruits remain on the ground. Like nearly all 

 the other myrtaceous fruits observed in Brazil the pitomba seems 

 capable of rapid improvement in the hands of the plant breeder. 



THE GENIPAPO. 



The genipap of the British West Indies {Genipa americaTia L.), 

 known in Brazil under the name of genipapo, is a close relative of 

 the Gardenia. It is common in Bahia, huge baskets of the fruit being 

 offered in the markets during the months of February and March. 

 While its flavor is rather peculiar and not certain to please a Euro- 

 pean at first trial, the fruit appears to be quite highly esteemed by 

 the Brazilians and is used by them in various ways. 



The tree attains a height of fully 60 feet. It is symmetrical and 

 stately in appearance, but devoid of foliage for a part of the year, as 

 the species is semideciduous. In November it is covered with small 

 yellow flowers. The leaves are a foot or more in length, oblong-ovate, 

 dark green in color, sometimes entire, sometimes more or less dentate. 

 The fruit is the size of an orange, broadly oval to nearly round in 

 form, russet brown in color. After being picked from the tree it is 

 not ready to be eaten until it has softened and is bordering on decay. 

 Immediately under the thin, delicate skin lies a layer of granular 

 flesh a cjuarter of an inch or more in thiclaiess; within this are the 

 numerous seeds surrounded by j^ellowish brown pulp. The seeds are 

 compressed, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and so abun- 

 dant that it is difficult to eat the pulp without swallowing them. The 

 flavor is characteristic and quite pronounced ; it may be likened, per- 

 haps, to that of dried apples, but is stronger, and the aroma is con- 

 siderably more penetrating. 



A liquor which is made from the genipapo retains the distinctive 

 flavor and aroma of the fruit to a marked degree. Its manufacture is 

 carried on commercially in a small way. 



A refreshing drink is prepared from the ripe fruit, with the addi- 

 tion of sugar and water. The green fruit yields a dye, which, accord- 

 ing to Barbosa Rodrigues, is employed by the Mundurucii Indians 

 for tattooing, and also for coloring clothes, straw, and hammocks. 



THE GRAVATA. 



An oblong straw-colored fruit, known to the natives as gravata, is 

 fKcasionally seen in the markets of Bahia. It is a species of Bro- 

 melia. It is not cultivated, but occurs wild in this region and is 

 gath'*red an<1 bi-Duglit to market l)y tlie natives. Its close relation- 

 .ship to the pineapple makes it of peculiar interest. Unlike the pine- 

 apple, in which the individual fruits are fused together and form a 

 single wliol(!. the fruits of the gcavata reiniiin separate. They vary 

 in length from .'} to 4 inches, in thirkncss froni iin inch to \\ inches. 



