THE NAVEL ORANGE OF BAHIA. Dal 
under the trees when fruits remain on the ground. Like nearly all 
the other myrtaceous fruits observed in Brazil the pitomba seems 
capable of rapid improvement in the hands of the plant breeder. 
THE GENIPAPO. 
The genipap of the British West Indies (Genipa americana L.), 
known in Brazil under the name of genipapo, is a close relative of 
the Gardenia. It iscommon in Bahia, huge baskets of the fruit being 
offered in the markets during the months of February and March. 
While its flavor is rather peculiar and not certain to please a Euro- 
pean at first trial, the fruit appears to be quite highly esteemed by 
the Brazilians and is used by them in various ways. 
The tree attains a height of fully 60 feet. It is symmetrical and 
stately in appearance, but devoid of foliage for a part of the year, as 
the species is semideciduous. In November it is covered with small 
yellow flowers. The leaves are a foot or more in length, oblong-ovate, 
dark green in color, sometimes entire, sometimes more or less dentate. 
The fruit is the size of an orange, broadly oval to nearly round in 
form, russet brown in color. After being picked from the tree it is 
not ready to be eaten until it has softened and is bordering on decay. 
Immediately under the thin, delicate skin hes a layer of granular 
flesh a quarter of an inch or more in thickness; within this are the 
numerous seeds surrounded by yellowish brown pulp. The seeds are 
compressed, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and so abun- 
dant that it is difficult to eat the pulp without swallowing them. The 
flavor is characteristic and quite pronounced; it may be likened, per- 
haps, to that of dried apples, but is stronger, and the aroma is con- 
siderably more penetrating. 
A liquor which is made from the genipapo retains the distinctive 
flavor and aroma of the fruit to a marked degree. Its manufacture is 
carried on commercially in a small way. 
A refreshing drink is prepared from the ripe fruit, with the addi- 
tion of sugar and water. The green fruit yields a dye, which, accord- 
ing to Barbosa Rodrigues, is employed by the Munduructi Indians 
for tattooing, and also for coloring clothes, straw, and hammocks. 
THE GRAVATA. 
An oblong straw-colored fruit, known to the natives as gravata, is 
occasionally seen in the markets of Bahia. It is a species of Bro- 
melia. It is not cultivated, but occurs wild in this region and is 
gathered and brought to market by the natives. Its close relation- 
ship to the pineapple makes it of peculiar interest. Unlike the pine- 
apple, in which the individual fruits are fused together and form a 
single whole, the fruits of the gravaté remain separate. They vary 
in length from 8 to 4 inches, in thickness from an inch to 14 inches. 
