THE NAVEL ORANGE OF BAHIA. 35 
The imbuti furnishes the basis for a dish famous throughout north- 
eastern Brazil, known asimbuzada. This is made by adding the juice 
of the fruit to boiled sweet milk. The mixture is greenish white in 
color and when sweetened to taste is relished by nearly everyone on 
first trial. Imbt jelly is another well-known product, obtainable in 
the stores of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and other coastal and interior 
cities. 
THE JOAZEIRO. 
Another interesting tree of the caatingas is the joazeiro, or juazeiro 
(Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.), from which the town of Joazeiro takes its 
name. This tree grows along the banks of the Rio Sao Francisco in 
Bahia State, but is not abundant in most parts. It rarely occurs in 
' large groves, but is usually scattered among the other plants along 
the river and on the caatinga. When it attains mature size it forms a 
beautiful, dark-green, umbrageous head 30 feet in diameter (PI. 
XXIII). The leaves are hard and brittle in texture, oval to ovate, 
about 2 inches in length. The small wood is armed with short, stiff 
thorns, which are not, however, particularly dangerous. 
The fruits (Pl. XXIV) vary greatly in size according to the tree 
by which they are produced. The largest ones are nearly an inch 
in diameter, round, and creamy yellow in color. Inside the thin skin 
is a layer of mealy flesh, within which lies the seed, surrounded by a 
mass of translucent, mucilaginous pulp. In size and shape the seed 
resembles a small oliv® stone. The pulp adheres to it very closely and 
can scarcely be separated, even in the mouth. The flavor is peculiar 
and somewhat insipid. 
Natives of the poorer classes gather up the fruit and use it for 
food, but it is as a source of stock feed in dry regions that the tree 
seems to have its greatest value. The trees bear prodigiously, the 
ground under them being covered with fruits at the end of the 
season. These are considered fattening and reported to be readily 
eaten by cattle and swine. In addition, the ornamental value of the 
tree and its drought-resisting qualities make it worthy of note. It is 
said to be the only plant on the caatinga which retains its leaves 
during excessively dry periods. 
