By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



459 



Ton sella. Schreber. 



TONSELLA PyRIPORMIS. 



A plant belonging to the natural order of Hippocratieea?, 

 and to the genus Tonsella, was observed by Mr. Don, but he 

 could not ascertain its native name, though the fruit, of which 

 he sent home specimens, had extraordinary merit ; it was 

 about the size and shape of a Bergamot Pear, with divisions 

 corresponding to the number of the seeds, which are usually 

 three ; its flavour was very rich and sweet. The plant grows 

 in elevated places at some little distance in the interior from 

 Free-Town ; it is a small shrub with oblong leaves, which 

 have very minute distinct teeth in their margin, and bears 

 axillary clusters of small greenish flowers. Tonsella Africana* 

 of Vahl seems to be a very nearly related species. 



Pomegranate. 

 A large tree growing on Leicester Mountain, with a Pla- 

 tanus-shaped leaf, was pointed out to Mr. Don as bearing a 

 fruit known by the above name, though certainly not referable 

 to the genus Punica ; it was said to be very excellent. No 

 specimen of the tree (which was neither in flower nor fruit at 

 the season Mr. Don saw it), was received. 



Sterculia. Linnceus. 

 Cola. Sterculia acuminata. Palisot de Beauvois. 

 The seeds of the Sterculia acuminata are known by the name 

 of Cola among the Negroes, and are held in great estimation 

 by them, being considered to possess the same virtues as Peru- 

 * Willdenow Species Plantarum, Vol. i. page 194. Vahl Enumeratio, 



