IlOSACEiE. 
3 
ed hairs: pulp adhering firmly to the shell, white, of a 
sweetish slightly austere but rather agreeable taste : shell 
with the base lateral ( i. e. not in the axis of the pedicel ), 
C-sulcated at the base, and G-valved, with each of the 
valves marked with a faint longitudinal ridge, reticulated. 
The c. pellocari'us of Meyer cannot be considered as 
distinct from the present species, the characters derived 
from the form of the leaves and fruit being uncertain and 
apt to vary. 
The Cocoa-plum grown in this Island is always of 
a brownish-purple colour. It is considered astringent, 
and to be useful in bowel complaints. Prepared with 
sugar, it forms a favourite conserve with the Spanish Colo- 
nists, and large quantities are annually exported from 
Cuba. The kernels yield a fixed oil, and an emulsion, 
made with them, is said to be useful in dysentery 
Ati astringent bath, recommended in leucorrluea and 
blennorrhcea, is prepared from the leaves and roots. 
II. IIlRTELLA. 
Calyx obtusely 5-lobcd, generally at length re- 
flected. Petals 5, small, deciduous. Stamens 3 
-15 [very probably 5-15] ; filaments long, twisted 
previous to aestivation in a circle. Style from the 
base of the ovary, opposite to the stamens. Drupe 
sulcated, 1 -celled. Seed stipitate from the fun- 
dus, erect*, albumen fleshy*, embryo straight 5 co- 
tyledons leafy. — Goertn. et D C. 
American shrubs: leaves entire, furnished with stipules ; 
racemes axillary or terminal, simple or compound . — Name 
from iiuiTUS, hairy; the plants belonging to the genus 
having more or less of this character. 
1. Hirtella triandra. South American Hirtella. 
Flowers 3-androus, petals ovate, racemes com- 
pound axillary and terminal, rachis pubescent, 
leaves oblong acuminate subglabrous. 
Swartz, FI. Iud. Occ. I OS. -II. Americana, Jacq . Arrer. 
8. t. 8. 
