32 BULLETIN 445, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PEKA DO CAMPO. 



The pera do campo or cabacinlia do cainpa (pear of the campo or 

 gourd of the campo ; botanically Eugenia Motzschiana Berg) is found 

 near Lavras, Minas Geraes, and also at Sitio, about 100 miles east 

 of Lavras; but it is extremely rare in both places and the natives 

 themselves in many cases seem not to be familiar with it. The 

 plants usually grow in groups or patches and are so low that it is 

 often difficult to distinguish them among the grass. The aromatic, 

 penetrating odor of the fruits, however, which is noticeable several 

 yards away, frequently furnishes a clue to their location. 



The plant is not bushy or shrubby in growth, but usually sends up 

 several slender, unbranched stems 1 to 2 feet in height. When grow- 

 ing along the banks of ravines this habit is sometimes changed, the 

 stems attaining a height of 4 or even 5 feet and giving rise to a few 

 slender, drooping lateral branches. The leaves are lanceolate, 3 to 5 

 inches long, rather hard and brittle, silvery pubescent on the under 

 surface. The slender pyriform fruits, 2 to 4 inches in length, ripen 

 from November to January. In appearance they somewhat resemble 

 pears except in their more elongated form and downy surface (Plate 

 XIX). The thin, delicate skin is light yellow to golden brown in 

 color. The flesh resembles that of a pear in color and texture ; it is 

 extremel}^ juicy and possesses a strong aromatic fragrance indicative 

 of its flavor, which is acid, spicy, and refreshing. Little is known 

 of its uses, but it is probably better suited to culinary use than for eat- 

 ing fresh, because of its acidity and a possible slight purgative effect. 

 The seeds, one to four in number, are irregularly oval in shape and 

 occupy a comparatively small amount of space in the center of the 

 fruit, a rather unusual thing in a wild species of Eugenia.. 



LIMlO DO MATTO. 



The limao do matto (lemon of the forest ; Rheedia edulis Planch, 

 and Triana) is a rare fruit, cultivated to a small extent at Lavras, 

 Minas Geraes. The tree is small, upright, sometimes pyram- 

 idal in form, of handsome appearance, with its oblong, glossy, 

 deep-green leaves 4 to 6 inches in length. The fruit (PI. XX) is 

 about 2 inches long, usually elliptical, tapering at both ends, and 

 bright orange in color. The thick, tough skin incloses a mass of 

 light-colored, juicy, aromatic pulp of rather acid flavor. The seeds 

 vary from one to three in number and are oblong or oval in form, 

 about an inch in length. If cut or bruised, a viscous, bright-yellow 

 fluid exudes from them. In quality, the fruit of this species seems 

 slightly inferior to Rheedia hrasilieneis, which grows at Rio de 

 Janeiro. » 



