ROSACEA. 3 



ed hairs: pulp adhering firmly to the shell, white, of a 

 sweetish slightly austere but rather agreeable taste : shell 

 with the base lateral ( i. e. not in the axis of the pedicel ), 

 6-sulcated at the base, and 6-valved, with each of the 

 valves marked with a faint longitudinal ridge, reticulated. 



The c. pellocakpus of Meyer cannot be considered as 

 distinct from the present species, the characters derived 

 from the form of the leaves and fruit being uncertain and 

 apt to vary. 



The Cocoa-plum grown in this Island is always of 

 a brownish-purple colour. It is considered astringent, 

 and to be useful in bowel complaints. Prepared with 

 sugar, it forms a favourite conserve with the Spanish Colo- 

 nists, and large quantities are annually exported from 

 Cuba. The kernels yield a fixed oil, and an emulsion, 

 made with them, is said to be useful in dysentery 

 An astringent bath, recommended in leucorrhcea and 

 blennorrhoea, is prepared from the leaves and roots. 



II. HlRTELLA. 



Calyx obtusely 5-lobed, generally at length re- 

 flected. Petals 5, small, deciduous. Stamens*/ 

 -15 [very probably 5-15] 5 filaments long, twisted 

 previous to aestivation in a circle. Style from the 

 base of the ovary, opposite to the stamens. Drupe 

 sulcated, 1 -celled. 2*eed stipitate from the fun- 

 dus, erect ; albumen fleshy 5 embryo straight 5 co- 

 tyledons leafy. — Gcsrtn. et D ^jL 



American shrubs : leaves entire, furm^hed with stipules ; 

 racemes axillary or terminal, simple or ei&ffpound. — Name 

 from hirtus, hairy ; the plants belonging to the genus 

 having more or less of this character. 



1. Hirtella triandra. South American Hirtella. 



Flowers 3-androus, petals ovate, racemes com- 

 pound axillary and terminal, rachis pubescent, 

 leaves oblong acuminate subglabrous. 



Swartz, Fl. Ind. Occ. [ 08. -H.Americana, Jacq. Arrer. 

 8, t. 8. 



