444 Account of the Edible Fruits of Sierra Leone. 



Adansonia. Linnaeus. 



Monkey Bread. Adansonia digitata. Linnteus. 



The trees of this species which were seen by Mr. Don 

 did not exceed a large Apple-tree in size, though their dimen- 

 sions in other places are usually reported as very great. The 

 fruit, which is of considerable size, and of an oblong shape, is 

 much used by the Negroes ; it contains a farinaceous pulp 

 full of seeds, which tastes like gingerbread, and has a pleasant 

 acid flavour. The species is not so common at Sierra Leone 

 as it is in Senegal, and some other parts of the coast. Being 

 so well known, further description of it is unnecessary. Plants 

 of it were sent home in a living state by Mr. Don, and grow 

 well in the bark stove at the Garden of the Society. 



Inga. Willdenow. 



Locust Tree, or Nety of the Negroes. Inga biglobosa. 

 Willdenow. 



This is a beautiful tree, when in blossom, being then co- 

 vered with compact biglobular heads of fine vermillion 

 coloured flowers, which have been well figured in the Flore 

 d'Oware* of the Baron de Beauvois, except that they should 

 have been represented as pendulous, not upright. It grows 

 in the low lands a few miles from Free-Town, but is not very 

 abundant. 



The tree is large, having spreading branches which are 

 thickly covered with alternate, bipinnate, rather downy leaves. 

 The pods which succeed the blossoms grow in compact 

 bunches, and contain a yellow farinaceous substance (enve- 



* Vol. ii. plate 90, page 53. 



