75 
No. 201. 
Sckizomeria ovata D. Don. \ 
The White Cherry. 
(Family CUNONIACE^E.) 
Botanical description. Genus, Schizomeria D. Don. 
Calyx-tubs short, adnate to the base of the ovary ; lobes 5, valvate, not enlarged after flowering. 
Petals small, toothed. 
Stamens 10, inserted outside a lobed disc ; anthers ovate, the connective produced into a short 
conical appendage. 
Ovary short, free except the broad base, 2-celled, with 4 ovules in each cell attached to a 
pendulous placenta ; styles distinct, short, recurved with terminal stigmas. 
Fruit, a drupe, with the small calyx-lobes reflexed from its base ; epicarp thick and fleshy ; 
endocarp bony. 
Seed solitary, somewhat curved ; embryo green, rather large in a fleshy albumen. 
Tree. 
Leaves opposite, simple. 
Stipules small. 
Flowers small, in terminal trichotomoua cymes. (B.F1. ii, 442.) 
Botanical description. Species, S. ovata D. Don, Cunon. 12, in Edinb. 
New Phil. Journ. (April to June, 1830). 
A tree attaining 50 feet (see below J.H.M.) with a dense foliage of a light green. 
Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or acuminate, mostly 3 or 4 inches long, nearly entire 
or with irregular obtuse serratures, shortly narrowed at the base and continuous with the 
petiole, coriaceous, penniveined and reticulate. 
Flowers rather smaller than those of Ceratopetalum apetalum, and the cymes usually looser, but 
otherwise much resembling them. 
Calyx-lobes scarcely above 1 line long. 
Petals shorter than the calyx, broad and toothed or lobed at the end. 
Drupe ovoid or globular, under ^ in. diameter. (B.F1. ii, 44.1) 
Botanical Name. Schizomeria from two Greek words sckizo, I cut, and 
nieria, a part, in reference to the petals, which usually have the appearance of pieces 
being cut out of them ; ovata, Latin, in reference to the shape of the leaves. 
Vernacular Names. Because of the white colour of its somewhat succulent 
fruits it is called " White Cherry," and because of the acidity, and usual astringency, 
it goes under the name of " Crab Apple." It usually bears this name in the Dorrigo, 
where it is especially abundant. Its smooth tight bark when young causes it, in 
common with many other brush trees, to be given the name of " Leather-jacket." 
C 
