THE CUSTARD APPLE FAMILY. 



515 



its fruit, which is considered by some to be one of the finest 

 in the world. Like other cultivated fruits there are several 

 varieties, varying in size and colour, also in having few or 

 many seeds. Several species of Anona are cultivated in other 

 parts of Tropical America and the West Indies, as well as in 

 tropical countries of the East, of which the following are the 

 principal. 



Sweet Sop (Anona squamosa). This bears a somewhat 

 egg-shaped fruit, about 3 or 4 inches in diameter, covered 

 with tubercles, having a cream-coloured spongy pulp. In 

 the "West Indies it is called sugar apple, or sweet sop, and is 

 much esteemed. 



Sour Sop {Anona muricata). A similar fruit to the pre- 

 ceding, but larger, sometimes weighing 21bs. ; it is covered 

 with short blunt prickles, and is esteemed by the negroes, 

 but is not much liked by Europeans. 



Custard Apple or Bullock's Heart (Anona reticulata). Also • 

 a large fruit having a netted skin, containing a yellowish or 

 slightly red custard-like pulp. The above are all small 

 trees, averaging from 20 to 30 feet in height. 



Anona triloba. A small tree or shrub found abundantly 

 throughout the Southern United States of North America. 

 The fruit is about 3 inches in length, enclosing a yellow, 

 sweet, luscious pulp, but is not much esteemed. Hogs fatten 

 on them. 



Duguetia quitarensis. A tree, native of Guiana, seldom 

 attaining more than 20 feet in height. Its wood is tough 

 and elastic, and is imported into this country under the name 

 of Lance Wood. 



Xylopia aromatica. A tall tree, native of Western Tropical 

 Africa. It has pointed egg-shaped leaves, woolly under- 

 neath ; the fruit consists of a number of dry carpels, about 

 tv/o inches in length, which are aromatic and used as pepper, 

 being sometimes called Guinea Pepper, Negro Pepper, and, 

 by old authors, " Piper ^thiopicum." 



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