1139 
DIOSPYRUS Mabola. 
The Mabola Tree. 
en 
POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. EBENACER. 
DIOSPYRUS. Supra, fol. 6. fol. 499. 
D. Mabola; foliis oblongis utrinque acutis subtis ramulisque sericeis, 
fasciculis florum racemosis multifloris, corollis dodecandris, antheris 
didymis. 
D.Mabola. Roxb. Hort. Bengh. p. 41. 
Cayanillea Philippensis. Desrousseaux in Encyc. méth. suppl. 3. p. 663. 
t. 454. 
Frutex orgyalis, verosimiliter in locis natalibus arbor mediocris, parcé 
ramosus, vix ramulosus, ligno ferreo. Rami patentes, cinerei, pubescentes. 
Folia alterna, oblonga, utrinque acuta, undulata, 7 uncias longa, 3 lata, 
atroviridia, subtis sericea, aurolenta, petiolis crassis, semiteretibus, brevibus. 
Flores dioici, in fasciculis 5-7-florts, racemosis, pedunculatis ordinati, odora- 
tissimi. Calyx subrotundus, 4-partitus, sericeus, pedicello bracteis ovatis, 
sericeis, arcte appressis imbricato. Corolla monopetala, suburceolata, ochro- 
leuca, sericea, limbo revoluto quadrifido, laciniis ovatis, contortim imbri- 
catis. Stamina hypogyna, 12, distincta, tubo breviora, jilamentis rigidis, 
Jiliformibus, apice furcatis, furcis anticis posticisque utrdque antheriferd. 
Antherse connectivo carnoso, subulato, valves linearibus, lateralibus, septulo 
medio distincto. Rudimentum ovarii villosum. 
This fine plant is the produce ofa fruit called Mabola 
in the Philippine Islands. It is reported to be a middle- 
sized tree, producing a hard, compact, excessively black, 
kind of ebony. The fruit is described as covered with a 
thick, bright brown coat, which encloses a pink or rose- 
coloured flesh; it is about 4 inches in diameter, and is 
something like a large quince. Its flavour is said to be 
agreeable, and its qualities wholesome; the pulp is firm 
and white, but the blade of a knife colours it black. The 
tree prefers moist stations, and resists successfully the 
effects of excessive heat or violent storms. It has been 
