ANONA'CECE, Anenads, the Custard-Apple-Tribe, a natural order of plants consisting of tropical or subtropical trees and bushes, that usually abound in a powerful aromatic secretion, which renders the flowers of sonic highly fragrant, the leaves of others a grateful perfume, and the dried fruits of inany so highly aromatic as to vie with the spices of commerce ; among these last is the Athiopitui Pepper of the shops, which is yielded by the fruit of Uraria arontaiien. Of others of this order, the fruit is succideut and abounds in a delicate juice, which renders it a pleasant article of food. Under the name of Sour Sop, Sweet Sop, and Custard-Apple, many kinds are cultivated in the West Indies and South America. Finally, the bark of some separates readily into fibrts which make excellent cordage: a large tree called in Brazil Pindaiba, and by botaniats Xylopia sericea, is advantageously employed for thin purpose.
The natural order A nona car is known from all other Dicotyledonous ()niers by its flowers having the calyx and sepals arranged in threes, number of earpella occupying tho centre, as in a ranunculus, and by the curious circumstance of their albumen, which hero constitutes the bulk of the seed, being what is called ruminated, that is, perforated in all directions by twisting and crossing passages, like the nutmeg.
The Sweet Sop (A nun *qua masa) is often only a small bush, growing in all the West India 'shun's, where it bears n greenish fruit covered with scales, and having tho appearance of a young pino-cone. Its skin
is half an inch thick, and contains an abundance of thick, sweet, luscious pulp. In many parts of the Indian Archipelago it is a favourite fruit.
for light turnery, and its fruit is good for tho dessert. The root of A. polustris is used fur making corks in Brazil.
The Custard-Apple (Anona re t iculata) is nu inferior kind, resembling the foregoing, but forming a larger tree, and having a much larger dark-brown fruit, the surface of which is netted all over. The bulb is yellowish or reddish, and of about the consistence of custard.
The Sour Sop (Anona murirata) forma• in the West Indies picturesque small tree, resembling a large bay-tree. The flowers are yellow, and have an unpleasant odour. The fruit is often as heavy as 2 lb., or even 3 lb.; it is covered all over with weak prickles ; its skin is Tellowish-green, and very thin ; its pulp is more like pith, is as white as milk, and is sweet mixed with a most agreeable acid.
The Cherirnoyer (Anona Cherintolia), is easily known from the preceding by its leaves not being shining and bright green, but hoary, with short down, and very blunt. It forms a small tree about 12 or 14 feet high, and is exceedingly valued in Peru, where it is cultivated on account of the excellence of its fruit. The flowers are very fra grant. The fruit heart-shaped, grayiah-brown or black, when ripe, with a sctly rind; it 14 white, sweet, and rich.
A. gylratica is called Aralira do Mato in Brazil. Its wood is used