536 CXXXVII. SAPOTE^. 



cells, ascending from the base of the inner angle, anatropous. Fkuit a one- or 

 many-celled berry [a 4-valved capsule in Ponteria] . Seeds with a bony [or crusta- 

 ceous, nearly shining] testa ; [hilum often large and longitudinal] ; albumen or 

 scanty, fleshy or oUy. Embryo large ; cotyledons broad, foliaceous ; radicle inferior. 



[PEINCIPAL GENERA. 

 ChrysophyLum. Ponteria. Lucuma. Sapota. 



Bassia. Mimusops. Argania. Imbricaria. 



Sideroxylon. Isonandra. Bumelia]. 



Sapotece approach Myrsmecs m their hypogynous monopetalous corolla, stamens opposite to the 

 corolla-lobes, usually extrorse anthers, straight albuminous embryo, woody stem, and alternate leaves ; 

 they are distinguished by their anisostemonous corolla, many-celled ovary and anatropous ovules. They 

 have also an obvious affinity with UhenaoecB in their arborescent stem, alternate entire leaves, axillary in- 

 florescence, monopetalous hypogynous regular corolla, many-celled ovary, fleshy fruit, and albuminous 

 embryo; but in JSbenacea the wood is veiy hard, and there is no milky juice, the flowers are often uni- 

 sexual, the calyx and corolla always uniseriate, the anthers always introrse, the ovules geminate, 

 pendulous and collateral. 



This family inhabits tropical and sub-tropical regions, and includes several species useful- to man. 

 The fruits of Lucuma mammosa [the Marmalade of the West Indies] are a very agreeable food ; as are 

 those of Achras Sapota and [various species of] Chrysophyllum, which are much sought after in the 

 Antilles ; those of Bassia and Imbricaria, Asiatic genera, are also edible. From the seeds of Bassia huty- 

 racea, in India, and of B. Parkii, in Senegal, a fixed oil is expressed (Galam Butter), which quickly 

 curdles, and is much used as food. Other Sapotece, both Asiatic and African {Sideroxylon, Argania), are 

 employed for building purposes on account of the hardness of the wood, whence their name of Iron Wood. 

 Finally, a Malayan tree (Isonandra gutta) furnishes Gutta Percha, a substance of a resinous nature, allied 

 to india-rubber, which is so useful in various manufactures, from its plasticity. 



[Other valuable tropical fruits are the Star-Apple {Chrysophyllum Cavnitd), the West Indian Medlar 

 {Mimusops Elengi), the Bullet-tree of Guiana {M. Balatd), the Abi or Abui of Peru {iMcmim Caimito), 

 and those of two Mauritian species of Imbricaria. The genus Bassia contains B. Parkii, the Butter-tree 

 of Park, which produces the Shea Butter of West Africa ; B. butyracea and B. longifolia, Indian Butter- 

 trees, which make an excellent soap ; B. latifolia, the Mahoua of Bengal, from whose fleshy flowers an 

 arrack is made, which is extensively drunk. The flowers of Mimusops Elengi yield a fragrant essence, and 

 the seeds an oil much used by painters. The bark of diffisrent species of Mimusops, Achras and Bumelia 

 is bitter, astringent and febrifuge. The seeds of Achras and Sapota are aperient and diuretic. The 

 fruit of the Maroccan Argania Sideroxylon, is greedily eaten by Cattle and goats, and the seeds which they 

 pass are afterwards collected and crushed for the bland oil which they contain, and which rivals olive 

 oil as an article of food and illumination; its wood is intensely hard, as is that of the Guiana Bullet-tree, 

 and of various species of Mimusops and Sidei-oxylon. Lastly, the Cow-tree of Para {Massaranduba) is 

 probably a species of this family. — Ed.] 



