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Xylopia carminativa, R. E. Fries. (Unona carminativa, Aruda da Camara. X. sericea, St. Hil.). Pao D' Embira. Pindaiba. Pimenta de Macaco. A tree closely allied to X. grandiflora, but with the lvs. narrower in comparison with their length, and with the apex more attenuate and the base more acute, but the latter varies and is sometimes rounded; lf.-blade clothed with appressed silky hairs longer than those of X. grandiflora, and usually smaller than the latter, but also varies in size: fls. much smaller than those of X. grandiflora, scarcely exceeding 1/2 in. in length, and serving at once to distinguish the two species: frs. either rounded at the tip or pointed, shorter than those of X. grandiflora, and usually containing 3 or 4 seeds, but sometimes only 1 or 2, in the latter case they resemble the frs. of X. frutescens, from which, however, they may be distinguished, when dry, by their black color and rough surface. Ranges from Minas Geraes in Brazil to British Guiana.—The seeds are commonly found in apothecary shops in Brazil, where they are sold as carminatives. According to St. Hilaire the bark is stringy and tenacious and is excellent for cordage, especially for boat-cables. The frs. have the odor and taste of pepper and are used as a condiment, but are not so pungent as pepper. Specimens were purchased at Januaria, state of Minas Geraes by Messrs. Popenoe, Shamel, and Dorsett, of the U. S. Dept. of Agric. during their recent mission to Brazil.
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