24 BULLETIN 445, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
mangos grown in the United States. Its unusual attractiveness and 
the fact that it withstands shipment and handling much better than 
other varieties observed make it of interest and well worthy of 
introduction for experimental tests in North America. 
Manga da rosa is believed to have been introduced into Brazil from 
Mauritius. ‘Two subvarieties are known in Bahia, “ da terra” and “ do 
Rio,” differing slightly in the shape of the fruits. Inarched trees are 
produced in small quantities and sell at $3 each. The variety is 
polyembryonic, like the “No. 11” mango of Florida and the West 
Indies, and appears to be a regular and prolific bearer. 
There are four other named varieties of the mango which are 
propagated by grafting and are more or less well known at Bahia 
as well as in other sections of Brazil. The best of these is probably 
the Itamaraca, which takes its name from the island of Itamaraca, 
off the Brazilian coast near Pernambuco, a place especially noted for 
its mangos. The fruit is small and of very unusual form, distinctly 
oblate, with a small protuberance, or “nak,” at the stigmatic point 
near the apex. Usually it does not average more than 8 inches in 
diameter. Its color is orange yellow, and the flesh is free from fiber, 
is aromatic, and of piquant, spicy flavor. It is generally considered 
the best flavored of the grafted varieties. Espada (sword), an- 
other named variety, is apparently a seedling type, of which indi- 
viduals are sometimes propagated by inarching. Its form is distinc- 
tive, long and curved at each end. It is usually yellowish green when 
ripe, not at all attractive in appearance. While its flavor is fair, the 
flesh is very fibrous and it must be ranked as inferior. Carlota and 
Augusta and two other named varieties, neither of them being widely 
grown. Both are rather small, of good flavor, but with no particular 
merit. 
THE DENDE PALM. 
The Guinea oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), known in Bahia 
as dendé, was doubtless introduced from Africa in the early days of 
the slave trade. It is frequently seen growing upon the hillsides on 
the edge of the city and is common around the huts of the negroes. 
Its tall, straight stem, ascending to a height of 40 or 45 feet, is 
crowned by a rather compact head of stiff, pinnate leaves-about 20 
feet in length. While not graceful in appearance, it is handsome 
and of considerable ornamental value, the scattered groups, which 
are abundant in the suburbs, being among the most pleasing features 
of the landscape. 
The fruits are produced in crowded bunches, clustered around the 
trunk at the bases of the leaves. Individually they are oblong ellip- 
tical, about 2 inches in length and 1 inch in thickness, dull orange- 
scarlet in color when fully ripe. The large seed is surrounded by a 
layer of firm golden yellow pulp, very rich in oil. 
