This small tree of dwarfish habit is from tropical Asia. It is closely related to the orange, and has large thorns. Its simple leaves are alternate, coriaceous, emarginate, and from 1 to 1½ inches in length. The petioles are short. The small, solitary flowers have five petals. The berry is globose and three-quarters of an inch in diameter. When ripe, it is a shiny black, and has a thick skin. The pulp has somewhat the flavor of a lime, and the seeds are generally 1 to 5 in number. The only specimens of this tree in Hawaii are growing in the garden of Mrs. Foster; they, presumably, were introduced by Dr. Hillebrand, as these gardens formerly belonged to him. Plate CXVI. |