BA'SSIA, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Sapotacea'. It has a calyx of four or five leaves, a monopetalous fleshy corolla, with its border generally 8-parted, and a great number of stamens. The ovary terminates in a long taper style, and contains from six to eight 1-seeded cells. The fruit has a pulpy rind, with not more thau thrco or four cells, the remaiuder being abortive.
The species are found in time East Indies and in Africa, where they are of great economical importance on account of the abundance of a sweet buttery substance which is yielded by their seeds when boilecL B. butgracea, the Indian Butter-Tree, the Fulwa, or I'hulwara-Tree, is fouud wild on the Almora hills in ludin, where it grows to a ong again, being 19 or 20 inches in length. This animal is easily recognised by the generic characters already described, and more empecially by the beg or hood of the occiput, which may bo said to be Ina manner peculiar to it, since it is but slightly indicated in the other specks; this bag, when distended with air, is about the site of a pullet's egg. The general colour is a mixture of vinous and sandy brown, slightly marbled on the back and sides with different shades of blue, and silvery-white on the belly. Transverse bands of a deep brown Dolour, but broken and irregular, pass down the sides from the dorsal fin to the flanks ; two email whitish bands peas over the eyes and from the corners of the mouth, and are prolonged upon the sides of the neck ; and the tail is so remarkably attenuated towards the extremity, as to allow the articulations of the vertebrse beneath. This species inhabits Guyana and the tropical parts of South America generally. Its habits have been sufficiently noticed in speaking of the general characters of the gonna considerable its trunk sometimes measuring 50 feet in height, and 5 or 6 feet in circumference. It has broad, oval, long-stalked leaves, from 6 to 12 inches long, smooth on their upper surface, hairy on their under. The flowers, which are large and pale-yellow, hang down near the tips of the branches, from the exile of the leaves, and generally grow three together. They are succeeded by amooth, pulpy fruits, about as large as a pigeon's egg, usually containing two or three roundish light-brown seeds. From these is produced a fat-like
substance, which is a kind of vegetable butter, concerning which we find the following information in the 'Asiatic Researches,' by Dr.
Roxburgh :—" On opening the shell of the seed or nut, which is of a fine chestnut colour, smooth and brittle, the kernel appears of the size and shape of a blanched almond. The kernels are bruised on a smooth stone, to the consistency of cream, or of a fine pulpy matter, which is then put into a cloth bag, with a moderate weight laid on, and left to stand till the oil or fat is expressed, which becomes immediately of the consistency of hog's-lard, and is of a delicate white colour. Its uses are in medicine, being highly esteemed in rheumatism and contractions of the limbs. It is also much valued, and used by natives of rank as an unction, for which purpose it is generally mixed with an utr (aromatic oil) of some kind. Except the fruit, which is not much esteemed, no other part of the tree is used.
After the oil has been expressed, the dregs are employed by the poor as food. This Phulwara. Butter will keep many mouths in India without acquiring any bad colour, taste, or smell, and might no doubt be substituted advantageously for animal butter. The timber is of no value, being nearly as light as that of the Semul, or Cotton-Tree (Bombay heptaphyllum)." B. longifolia, the Indian Oil-Tree, is a large tree, a good deal like the last, but its leaves are narrower, and its flowers much more fleshy.
It is a native of the peninsula of India, and is found in plantations along the southern coast of Coromandel, where it is called the 'Duple Tree. Its fruit is yellowish, and yields by pressure a valuable oil, which is used by the poorer natives of India for their lamps, for soap, and, instead of better oil, for cookery. The flowers also are roasted and eaten by the Indian peasants, or bruised and boiled to a jelly, and made into small balls, which are sold or exchanged for fish, rice, and various sorts of small grain. The wood is as hard and durable as teak, so that this is one of the most generally useful trees found ou the continent of India.