442 Account of the Edible Fruits of Sierra Leone. 



of that description are wanting, it will be understood that 

 the names so circumstanced are new. 



FRUITS OF SIERRA LEONE AND ITS VICINITY. 



Sarcocephalus. Afzelius, MSS. 

 Peach of the Negroes. Sarcocephalus esculentus. 

 Afzelius in Herb. Banks. 



This is a large fleshy fruit of the size of a full grown Peach. 

 It is solitary, and grows at the extremity of the branches. 

 Its surface is brown, and granulated. The core is solid and 

 rather hard, but edible, much resembling the centre of a Pine 

 Apple in substance, and occupying, in a large fruit, about 

 one-fourth of the diameter. The surrounding flesh is softish, 

 full of small seeds, in consistence and flavour much resem- 

 bling a Strawberry. 



The tree grows plentifully in low places over the country 

 generally, and is from ten to fifteen feet high, bearing many 

 spreading dichotomous branches. The leaves are large, deep 

 green, opposite, and elliptical. The flowers are small, dis- 

 posed in globular heads on a fleshy receptacle, which, with 

 the confluent germens, afterwards become the fruit. The 

 corolla is pale pink with five divisions, it has five stamina, 

 and the pistilla, which project much, are a brownish pink. 



The specimens obtained by Mr. Don have enabled Miss 

 Cotton to make a drawing of a branch in flower and fruit, 

 from which the accompanying engraving has been taken ; a 

 representation of the section of a small fruit has also been 

 given, which will aid the above description, by conveying a 

 more perfect idea of its appearance 



