The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening

Every genus a Victorian gardener could grow — Abelia to Zygopetalum across four volumes, with each plant's history, species, and culture, by the Curator of Kew.

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Lucuma

(the Peruvian name of one of the species). SYNS. Guapeba, Sersalisia (in part), Vitellaria. ORD. Sapotaceae. A genus of about sixty species of lactescent stove trees and shrubs, mostly natives of South America, extending from Chili and Peru to Mexico and the West Indies, a few Australian or New Caledonian. Flowers produced in clusters upon the sides of the branches. Fruit large, fleshy, edible, somewhat egg-shaped, 3in. to 5in. long, covered with a rusty skin. Leaves scattered, leathery, entire. Probably L. mammosa is the only species in cultivation. For culture, see Chrysophyllum. L. mammosa (nippled). Marmalade Plum. fl. small, whitish, solitary. fr. large, oval or top-shaped, covered with a brownish rough skin, under which is a soft pulp, of a russet-colour, and very luscious. l. obovate-lanceolate and oblong, 1ft. to 2ft. long, cuspidate, glabrous. h. 50ft. to 100ft. South America, 1739.

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