32 BULLETIN 445, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
PERA DO CAMPO. 
The pera do campo or cabacinha do campa (pear of the campo or 
gourd of the campo; botanically Z'ugenia klotzschiana Berg) is found 
near Lavras, Minas Geraes, and also at Sitio, about 100 miles east 
of Lavras; but it is extremely rare in both places and the natives 
themselves in many cases seem not to be familiar with it. The 
plants usually grow in groups or patches and are so low that it is 
often difficult to distinguish them among the grass. The aromatic, 
penetrating odor of the fruits, however, which is noticeable several 
yards away, frequently furnishes a clue to their location. 
The plant is not bushy or shrubby in growth, but usually sends up 
several slender, unbranched stems 1 to 2 feet in height. When grow- 
ing along the banks of ravines this habit is sometimes changed, the 
stems attaining a height of 4 or even 5 feet and giving rise to a few 
slender, drooping lateral branches. The leaves are lanceolate, 3 to 5 
inches long, rather hard and brittle, silvery pubescent on the under 
surface. The slender pyriform fruits, 2 to 4 inches in length, ripen 
from November to January. In appearance they somewhat resemble 
pears except in their more elongated form and downy surface (Plate 
XIX). The thin, delicate skin is hght yellow to golden brown in 
color. The fiesh resembles that of a pear in color and texture; it is 
extremely juicy and possesses a strong aromatic fragrance indicative 
of its flavor, which is acid, spicy, and refreshing. Little is known 
of its uses, but it is probably better suited to culinary use than for eat- 
ing fresh, because of its acidity and a possible slight purgative effect. 
The seeds, one to four in number, are irregularly oval in shape and 
occupy a comparatively small amount of space in the center of the 
fruit, a rather unusual thing in a wild species of Eugenia. 
LIMAO DO MATTO. 
The limao do matto (lemon of the forest; Rheedia eduiis Planch. 
and Triana) is a rare fruit, cultivated to a small extent at Lavras, 
Minas Geraes. The tree is small, upright, sometimes pyram- 
idal in form, of handsome appearance, with its oblong, glossy, 
deep-green leaves 4 to 6 inches in length. The fruit (Pl. XX) is 
about 2 inches long, usually elliptical, tapering at both ends, and 
bright orange in color. The thick, tough skin incloses a mass of 
light-colored, juicy, aromatic pulp of rather acid flavor. The seeds 
vary from one to three in number and are oblong or oval in form. 
about an inch in length. If cut or bruised, a viscous, bright-yellow 
fluid exudes from them. In quality, the fruit of this species seems 
slightly inferior to Rheedia brasiliensis, which grows at Rio de 
Janeiro. 
