242 DATEGROWING 



apex and flattened or depressed base. The thin, 

 tender, and shiny skin adheres closely to the flesh but 

 is wrinkled indiscriminately. Color tawny olive 

 to golden brown, sometimes with ochraceous areas. 

 Flesh one-eighth inch thick, firm but tender, often 

 more like a soft than a dry date. Seed seven-eighths 

 inch long, one-fourth broad, nearly uniform in width, 

 rounded at both ends, usually with well-marked, 

 wing-like ridges on the sides; ashy gray, neutral or 

 otter brown in color, sometimes with a purplish 

 tinge; ventral channel broad and moderately deep, 

 usually open but sometimes closed in a small part of 

 its area, germ pore in center. Flavor sweet, whole- 

 some and agreeable. 



A variety brought from Tunisia by Kearney under 

 the name of Halwa Baydha (Halooa Bayda) is 

 also growing in the United States, and seems to be 

 little different from the one described above. He 

 describes it as follows: 



Fruit one and one-third to one and one-half 

 inch long, about one-half wide, elliptical in outline, 

 not conspicuously narrowed at apex, widest near 

 middle; dull purplish bay when ripe; the flesh one to 

 one and one-half lines thick, becoming very firm 

 and dry; seed about seven-tenths as long as fruit 

 and one-third to two-fifths as wide as long, ventral 

 channel open. Branches of fruit clusters pale orange. 

 Flavor simple, wholesome, and not excessively sweet; 

 season October 10. 



Finally, natives of the Ziban distinguish a sub- 

 variety, Laun ("the color of") al Halwa, which is 

 slightly smaller — perhaps a seedling Halwa in origin. 



