EDIBLE FRUITS OP THE WEtiT INDIES. 267 



as a fruit tree. The fruit of P. p&miferum is said to be of no great 

 value, on account of its astringency, but it has a pleasant, agreeable 

 odour, and by careful cultivation would, no doubt, prove a good, whole- 

 some, and pleasant fruit All parts of the plant have a strong astringent 

 taste, the root and young leaves being considered stomachic. This 

 species is only a shrub, growing about twelve to sixteen feet high. 



The Anchovy Pear, the fruit of Grias cauliflora, L., is another of the 

 many esteemed fruits of these islands. The tree producing it is straight 

 and handsome, growing from 30 to 50 feet high. It has lanceolate acu- 

 minate leaves, from two to three feet long, and large whitish blossoms. 

 The fruits are about the size of a large pear, and of a russet-brown 

 colour. The seeds are embedded in a firm, fleshy pulp, which is com- 

 monly eaten amongst the natives. In flavour it somewhat resembles 

 the mango, and is frequently pickled in like manner. The tree is com- 

 mon in all parts of the West Indies, and very abundant in thickets 

 and damp situations in Jamaica. It can be easily raised from seeds in a 

 moist stove. It was introduced in the middle oi the eighteenth century. 



The Star Apple (Chrysophyllum Cainilo, L.) is a beautiful tree, grow- 

 ing from thirty to fifty feet in height, with a spreading head, composed 

 of very flexible branches. The leaves are from two to three inches 

 long, of an oblong form, acute at the apex, the under side covered with 

 a deep yellow or golden down — hence the name Chrysophyllum, com- 

 posed of two Greek words meaning golden-leaved. There are several 

 species or varieties of this genus, all furnishing fruits much resembling 

 C. Cainito. The variety Jamaicense would appear to produce the best 

 fruit, or that which is most esteemed by the natives. The fruit is large, 

 of a globose form, with small black seeds arranged in the ceils, radiating 

 from the centre in the form of a star, each cell containing one seed. The 

 pulp, or flesh, is soft, of a sweetish, insipid taste, not much in favour 

 with Europeans, but esteemed by the natives. All parts of the tree 

 are said to be highly astringent, as well as the unripe fruit, but 

 upon becoming ripe it loses this property. It was introduced into this 

 country early in the eighteenth century, and is frequently found in 

 stoves as an ornamental plant. The trees seldom bear fruit till they attain 

 a considerable height. The Damson Plum of Jamaica is supposed to be 

 a species or a variety of this genus — viz., C. oliviforme, Lam., var. 

 monopyreum. This is a smaller tree, producing a close-grained wood, 

 somewhat resembling box. The fruit is not much sought after as an 

 article of food. Both plants grow abundantly in all the West Indian 

 Islands. The former species is also common in South America, within 

 the tropics. 



Lucuma mammosa, Gaertn. — A large Sapotaceous tree, sometimes 

 growing one hundred feet high, with large shining leaves and small 

 whitish flowers, furnishes a fruit known as the " Mammee Sapota," or 

 American Marmalade, from the similarity of the flavour of the pulp 

 to the marmalade made from quinces. The fruit is large, of an ova"' 



