518 



APPENDIX -PHYTOLOGY. 



a round tuft, with the branches raised horizontally and inclined ; the first rind affords a sort of black 

 dye ; the wood a yellow one ; the leaves are almost round ; the flower in bunches ; its singular fruit is 

 of the size and figure of a long round pepper, with a fine smooth skin, tinged with red or yellow, and 

 sometimes with both, with a white spongy substance, half sweet, without stone or seed ; the taste is 

 not agreeable, although many persons are partial to this fruit; it has at the extremity a nut of an ash- 

 colour, containing a white and oily substance, and not unlike the chestnut when roasted. Excellent 

 sweetmeats are made of the fruit, and also a lemonade and even wine of its juice. 



Calumby, or Calumbo-Tree, is small, with little tuft, having exceedingly small leaves, which 

 close when the sun sets and open in tlie morning. There are male and female, both armed with 

 thorns like the bramble ; the male has a very small flower, resembling a paint-brush, and its wood is 

 green, hard, compact, and very heavy, being only serviceable for joiners' work, as scarcely one is 

 found, even amongst the most slender, without being hollow. The female has a flower resembling 

 the chestnut-tree, and its timber, although solid, is not so heavy, and is waved with green and white. 

 The fruit of both are flat berries. 



Candea (Lamp) is a crooked shrub, with a large stock, the leaf is generally white on the under 

 side ; the wood, when dried, affbrds a good light without smoke, and saving much oil to the poor of 

 the certanis, who put a fire-brand of it into the wall, where it lasts for a long time, giving a flame 

 like a flambeau ; hence comes its denomination. When put into the ground it keeps many years. 



Caneleira, Canela or Cinnamon Tree, was transplanted from Asia, and was cultivated with 

 some care at the commencement of the colonization, but was afterwards destroyed, by royal order, that 

 it might not interfere with the oriental trade ; this error was soon discovered. At present the increase 

 of those whicji spring from roots is preferred ; the quality of the soil in which it should be planted 

 depends upon the vegetable. The best Asiatic cinnamon-trees grow in dry soils. 



CoLLA is a tree introduced from Africa, of medium size, with leaves rather long, pointed, and 

 shining on both sides ; the flower is white and in bunches. It fructifies in a pod. 



CUTEZEIRA, or Cuteza-Tree, is small, with horizontal branches, and the leaves rather long, 

 smooth, wide, rounded at the point, and pointed at the base ; it affords a large oval fruit with a hard 

 shell, of which, when parted, is made cuyas, or cups, 



Gamelleira, or Gamella-Tree, is of considerable girth, having a round and thick leaf; it 

 extends roots from the branches to the ground ; its shade is sought after. 



Geremma is a small thorny tree with very small leaves, which daily close from the influence of the 

 sun ; the flower resembles that of the chestnut ; of its wood charcoal is made for forges. 



Goyabeira, or Goyaba-Tree, is a shrub with a smooth rind, the leaf almost round, the fruit, 

 like a pear, is yellow and odoriferous, the pulp is rubicund, with a great quantity of small and round 

 seed in the centre. A preserve much esteemed is made of it. 



Guabirabeira, or Guahiraba-Tree, is one of the largest fruit-trees in the country ; its leaf is 

 a little less than that of the peach, and almost of the same shape ; the flower is white ; the fruit has 

 the size and form of a pear, and is eaten in the same way as sorvas or service-berries. 



Herva de Cobra (Serpent-Herb) is a small plant resembling a little the fern in its foliage, the 

 flower is small and yellow, with five petals, and its fruit is a very little berry. The name arises from 

 its virtue in curing the bite of a snake by placing the leaves pounded upon the wound and giving the 

 patient the juice to drink. 



The Jabuticabeira, or Jabuticaba-Tree, is small and slender, with smooth bark ; the leaves, which 

 are varnished on both sides, but not of the same green, vary in form upon the same branch. It 



