Mandapuca, Myrtus Scabra:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.
Coco Naia, a large palm tree, which is to be found abundantly in Cariri Novo and Piauhi; the nut contains three or four seeds, from which oil is extracted, and this is applied to the same purposes as that of the cocos nucifera. The nut is covered with a feculous substantial flour, which has afforded much relief in times of need. From this fecula is made a soup or angù, as it is called, which is seasoned with the emulsion or oil obtained from the almond of the same fruit. The pith of the tops of these palms is a white substance, tender, juicy, sweetish, and pleasant to the taste, and it is harmless even if eaten raw. If it be boiled with meat, the taste is not unlike the cabbage, but it is more solid. After having taken from it the saccharine parts by means of one boiling, it becomes capable of being seasoned, and many excellent dishes are made from them, after the manner of the areca oleracea. For the knowledge of these last uses the inhabitants of those parts are indebted to my example. The same may be practised with the palmeira pindoba (cocos butiroza, Lin.) which is very common at Pernambuco. For these purposes the larger trees should not be cut down, but rather only those which have attained the height of ten or fifteen feet.[275]
Marangaba, Psidium Pigmeum:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.
This is a species of goiaba plant which does not attain more than two or three feet in height; it abounds in the chapada of the Serra Araripe of Cariri Novo.[276]
In front of my house at Itamaraca, there was a dendezeiro which stood alone, and I know that there was no other tree of the same species anywhere within sight. The tree bore fruit.—Transl.
Plants of Pernambuco.
Carapitaia, Carlotea formosissima:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.
Bilros, Carlotea Speciosa:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.
Two beautiful species of a new genus, which I have dedicated to H. R. H. the Princess of Brazil; the roots of these plants are tuberous, abounding with soft and nutritive fecula, which has afforded assistance to the people of the Sertam of Pajaù in times of drought. These plants are worthy of being cultivated not only from their utility but for the purpose of ornamenting gardens, their flowers being umbellate, crimson, and very beautiful.