220 
CALYCl flora:. 
nate deciduous bractea. Flowers numerous, crowded at the 
ends of the divisions of the panicle, shortly pedicelled, at lirst 
white, but afterwards changing to crimson, fragrant, furnished 
at the base of the pedicel with an ovato-lanceolate concave deci- 
duous bractea. Calycine segments ovato-lanceolate, acute, erect. 
Petals 5, linear, acute, with a sharp ridge in the middle internally 
for half the length from the base, subreflected, twice the length 
of the calyx. Stamens 10, rather shorter than the calycine 
segments, subunequal in length, with all the anthers perfect; 
or, as is usually the case in the fertile flowers, as well as occa- 
sionally in the barren, one of the stamens is stronger and twice 
the length of the rest, bearing a roundish 4-lobed barren anther, # 
and there may be only the rudiments of several (3) of the short- 
er ones : filaments united at the base : anthers reniform. Ovary 
in the barren flowers obscure ; in the fertile subrotund, com- 
pressed : style subunilateral, nearly as long as the petals, slightly 
curved : stigma obtuse. Shell of the nut formed of two hard 
coriaceous layers, connected by cellular tissue, filled with an 
acrid caustic oil. Pedicel, as the nut ripens, enlarging and 
forming a pyriform fleshy edible body, about 3 times the length 
of the nut; it is of a yellow or crimson colour externally, and 
of a yellow spongy consistence, yielding a subacid austere juice. 
This is a very common tree in every part of the Island, with 
the exception of the very high mountains : it thrives best in 
our dry open plains. It is at first of quick growth, is long- 
lived, and yields annually, after the second year, an abundant 
crop. The fruit, when in perfection, is sweet and juicy; but 
leaves a rather unpleasant astringent sensation on the tongue. 
It is considered wholesome, and to be of service in cases where 
the tone of the stomach is impaired, and especially in the 
disease known by the name of dirt-eating. It forms, stewed 
with sugar or syrup, a very excellent preserve. A very good 
wine may be made from the juice ; and a spirit not inferior to 
rum or brandy, possessed of diuretic properties, may be ob- 
tained by distillation. The fruit, sliced, is employed in the 
preparation of the beverage, known, in the country, by the 
name of Cashew-punch. The kernel of the roasted nuts is 
much esteemed, and considered not inferior to the sweet almond 
or pistachio nut. It is white, and of a sweetish taste : it has 
been given, infused in milk, for asthma and worms, and is 
said (Diet. Mat. Med. 1. 275.) to have an effect in exciting 
the faculties, particularly that of memory, so that a preparation 
of it has been styled, Confection des Sages. The oil, contained 
in the shell of the nut, is thick, black, and very acrid, and has 
been applied as a caustic to remove warts and other cutaneous 
excrescences, and, introduced into the hollow of decayed teeth, 
to destroy the sensibiility of the nerve. It has also been em- 
ployed as a cosmetic for freckles, &c. ; but this is doubtful, 
as the oil acts as blister, and Mould be very painful. The 
