PHTSALIS. 
91 
strongly bilobed pale shining steelly b. ; after bursting oblong, 
twice as long as broad, dark y. ; rising out of the throat and 
bursting longitudinally from top to bottom in succession, one 
at a time. Pollen greyish w. Fil. round not dilated at the 
base, smooth shining v., at first shorter, afterwards a little 
longer than the anth. Style smooth shining v., a little longer 
than the stam. ; stigma gr. abruptly depresso-capitate bi- 
lobed, lobes not decurrent. Ov. smooth pale or whitish, ob- 
soletely 2 or 4-lobed, obtusely 10-angular or sulcate down- 
wards and immersed at the base in a waxy-y. fleshy cup- 
shaped ring or nectary, 2-celled many-seeded. Cal. in fr. much 
enlarged and globosely inflated, bladdery, reticulated, scarcely 
or not prominently 5-angular, closely contracted at the fnouth 
and apiculate, at first pale gr., then dry and pale or whitish 
straw-colour. Fr. or berry globose smooth shining full bright 
deep lemon -y., the size of a cherry or marble i. e. 6-8 lines in 
diam., loosely but completely enclosed within the bladdery cal. 
Seeds flat imbedded in a gratefully acidulous juicy pulp, very 
cooling and acceptable to a weary wanderer in hot summer 
weather. 
The fr. is deservedly much esteemed for tarts, preserves &c. ; 
and formerly (1826-1830) was so abundant that it was usually 
sold in the husk or calyx in July and August at 5 d. per bushel. 
At present the pi. has become so scarce that the same quantity, 
if at all procurable, would be worth at least five times that 
price. As a preserve it is remarkable for its viscous or glutinous 
substance, rich deep golden colour and peculiar quite sui generis 
liavour. 
In 1826, I was told by many old people in the north of the 
island that they remembered its being quite a scarce pi. It has 
now returned to that condition everywhere. In 1826 I found 
it universally abundant. It began to fall off in prevalence from 
1840 onwards to the present time. 
I cannot find the slightest ground for separating this pi. into 
dentate- or entire- or small- or large-leaved varr. a, /3, y, 8, as 
by Dunal in DC. 1. c. All these states or stages may be often 
observed in the selfsame individual pi. 
