788 Black Persimmon 



of the previous season. The staminate flowers are on nodding hairy pedicels, 

 usually in clusters of 2 or 3; the calyx is about 3 mm. long, deeply 5-lobed, and 

 silky; the corolla is um-shaped, twice the length of the calyx, white, scarcely 5- 

 -lobed; the 16 stamens are distinct, in 2 rows; the anthers are linear-lanceolate, and 

 open at the apex; the pistillate flowers are usually solitary on shorter pedicels, 

 their calyx silky, half the length of the hairy corolla, which is nearly 12 mm. across; 

 ovary ovoid, 8-celled, with i ovule in each cavity, and 4 spreading, 2-lobed styles; 

 there are no stamens nor staminodia. The fruit ripens in August; it is a depressed 

 globose berry, 2 cm. in diameter, black and tipped by the style and subtended 

 by the enlarged, reflexed calyx-lobes; the skin is thick, the pulp sweet, dark colored, 

 and contains 3 to 8 triangular seeds, 8 mm. long, light red, and shining. 



The wood is hard, very compact, nearly black, with a specific gravity of about 

 0.85. It is used for tool handles and other turned ware. The fruit is very astrin- 

 gent unless fully ripe, but stains everjrthing it comes in contact with by its black 

 juice; it is said to be used as a black dye by the Mexicans. 



The genus seems to be monotypic and is named in honor of Professor WiUiam 

 L. Bray, a diligent student of the Texan flora. 



