3J8 DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



supposed to be one of the fruits eaten by the people called 

 Lotophagi. 



Persimmon or American Date Plum (^Diosj)yros virginiand). 

 A tree, native of the United States. It attains the height of 

 50 or 60 feet, and has rough corky bark, and unisexual or 

 bisexual flowers. The fruit is nearly round, about an inch 

 in diameter, and of a yellowish orange colour; it is very 

 austere, but after being frosted is eatable. They are pounded 

 and made into cakes from Avhich a kind of beer is prepared, 

 and a spirit is obtained by fermentation and distillation. 

 The tree is rare in this country. One 40 feet high and one 

 hundred years old may be seen at Kew, which in some 

 seasons produces fruit. 



Chinese Date (^Diospyros Kaki). A tree, native of China 

 and Japan, where as well as in India it is cultivated for the 

 sake of its fruit, which is about the size of a small apple ; it 

 is said to be delicious, and is made into a preserve. It has 

 been introduced into Egypt, whence it is called Lotus tree. 

 It has fruited at Kew. 



Ebony. This is furnished by several sjjecies of Diospyros ; 

 Ceylon ebony by D. Ehenum ; Indian ebony by D. Ebenaster 

 and D. melanoxylon ; the best, however, comes from the 

 Mauritius, and is the produce of D. reticulata. They are 

 large but slow growing trees with firm dark-coloured leaves. 

 With age the wood becomes hard and black and is then known 

 as ebony. Ebony is mentioned in the Bible* as an article 

 of merchandize obtained probably from Ceylon. 



Calamander Wood (^Diospyros qucesita). A large tree, 

 native of Ceylon, having beautiful hard wood much prized 

 for making boxes and other ornamental articles. 



Mabola [Diospyros mahola). A native of the Philippine 

 Islands, and commonly cultivated in many Islands of the 

 East ; it has also been introduced into the West Indies. It 

 is a middle sized tree, having large firm coriaceous leaves of 

 a light colour. The fruit is like a large quince, and in some 

 places is often called Mangosteen ; its flavour is agreeable. 



* Ezekiel, chap, xxvii. ver. 15. 



