THE ISTAVEL ORANGE OF BAHIA. 35 



The imbii furnishes the basis for a dish famous throughout north- 

 eastern Brazil, known as itnbuzada. This is made by adding the juice 

 of the fruit to boiled sweet milk. The mixture is greenish white in 

 color and when sweetened to taste is relished by nearly everyone on 

 first trial. Imbu jelly is another well-known product, obtainable in 

 the stores of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and other coastal and interior 

 cities. 



THE JOAZEIRO. 



Another interesting tree of the caatingas is the joazeiro, or juazeiro 

 (Zisiphus joazeiro Mart.), from which the town of Joazeiro takes its 

 name. This tree grows along the banks of the Eio Sao Francisco in 

 Bahia State, but is not abundant in most parts. It rarely occurs in 

 large groves, but is usually scattered among the other plants along 

 the river and on the caatinga. "VVlien it attains mature size it forms a 

 beautiful, dark-green, umbrageous head 30 feet in diameter (PI. 

 XXIII). The leaves are hard and brittle in texture, oval to ovate, 

 about 2 inches in length. The small wood is armed with short, stiff 

 thorns, which are not, however, particularly dangerous. 



The fruits (PI. XXIV) vary greatly in size according lo the tree 

 by which they are produced. The largest ones are nearly an inch 

 in diameter, round, and creamy yellow in color. Inside the thin skin 

 is a layer of mealy flesh, within which lies the seed, surrounded by a 

 mass of translucent, mucilaginous pulp. In size and shape the seed 

 resembles a small olive stone. The pulp adheres to it very closely and 

 can scarcely be separated, even in the mouth. The flavor is peculiar 

 and somewhat insipid. 



Natives of the poorer classes gather up the fruit and use it for 

 food, but it is as a source of stock feed in dry regions that the tree 

 seems to have its greatest value. The trees bear prodigiously, the 

 ground under them being covered with fruits at the end of the 

 season. These are considered fattening and reported to be readily 

 eaten by cattle and swine. In addition, the ornamental value of the 

 tree and its drought-resisting qualities make it worthy of note. It is 

 said to be the only plant on the caatinga which retains its leaves 

 during excessively dry periods. 



