14 
Vernacular Names. —Variously known as “ Black Apple,” “ Brush Apple,” 
“Wild” or “Native Plum,” because of its fruit. 
Aboriginal Names. —Polio wing are some aboriginal names:—Jerrawawa 
or “ Jerra-wa-wali,” Illawarra and Brisbane Water (New South Wales) ; 
“Wycaulie,” Biclimond and Clarence Bivers (New South Wales); “ Tclioonboy,” 
Northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland; “Panunpin,” of some 
Queensland aborigines (A. J. Hockings). 
Synonyms. — Sapota australis, A.DC. Prod, viii, 175; Acliras australis, 
B.Br. Prod. 530. 
Fruit. —Purplish black, glaucous, something like an Orleans plum, 1^ inch 
long and about an inch broad. Of a coarse insipid flavour and somewhat astringent 
to the taste. The large seeds, and the frequent occurrence of maggots in the fruit 
are drawbacks, hut it yields a fair jelly or preserve, frequently made in the country 
districts, where it is a prolific bearer. 
Some of our sapotaceous seeds will perhaps prove to be good oil-yielders. 
The seeds of the Black Apple can scarcely be distinguished in appearance from those 
of Bassia latifolia of India which yield Mahwa oil. 
Timber. —The wood is close-grained, firm, prettily veined, and good for 
cabinet-work (Macartliur). Very handsome planks can sometimes he obtained from 
it. It is occasionally used by turners and wood-carvers ; it works splendidly. It is 
of a pale yellow colour, and the complicated grain affords a pattern of a singularly 
pretty appearance. It is singular that the figure has a very similar appearance 
whether cut radially or tangentially. It requires very careful seasoning. It is used 
for staves and laths, and for general building purposes. It is not much used. 
Two slabs of this wood which have been seasoned over twenty-five years 
have weights which correspond to 55 lb. 13 oz. and 57 lb. 14 oz. respectively per 
cubic foot. 
Exudation.— 
The remarkable gum which exudes from this tree is worth investigation. I can answer for its 
disagreeable tenacity when it gets about the hands.—( Tenison- Woods, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. iv, 135.) 
The juice is milky and the order to which this tree belongs yields the gutta¬ 
percha of commerce. It would not be difficult to collect a quantity of this juice for 
research, and it should certainly be examined. The milky sap resembles cream in 
taste if eaten in small quantity. 
An allied tree, Acliras sapota, Linn, is of special interest in this connection. 
This is said to be the tree which produces most of the “chicle,” a gum extensively imported into 
the United States, and used in the manufacture of chewing gum, which is almost wholly composed of it. 
It is said that Vitellaria mammosa (L.) Radik., as well as other species of the genus Vitellaria produce 
chicle, and that the best gum for “ masticgatory ” purposes is that obtained from V. mammosa. 
