The Jambeira, or Jamba-Tree, whose size is proportioned to the quality of the ground upon which it grows, has a pointed leaf, with dark green on the upper side, and clear green on the under; the flower has four small petals in the form of a shell, with numerous long and upright capillaments, and a pointed pistil still longer; its fruit resembles an apricot, has a fine flavour, and smells like a rose.
The Jaqueira, or Jaca-Tree, transplanted from Asia, and prospering only in the tropics, is a large tree, with a round tuft, a thick trunk, large leaves rounded at the extremity and pointed at the base, varnished on both sides, the upper one of dark green. Its fruit, which only grows upon the trunk and main branches, is very large, (some forty pounds weight,) of an oblong form; the skin is green, rough-grained, and thick; the white pulp is fibrous, and impregnated with viscous milk; but it has another pulp, sown promiscuously with a sort of almond, less fibrous, without milk, and sweet, and which is the part eaten.
Jatuba, which has not this name in all the provinces, fructifies in husks like the tamarind-tree.
Jenipapeiro, or Jenipapo-Tree, is of good height with the trunk erect, the tuft round and of medium size; the leaf is similar to that of the chestnut, very thick, and of a dark green; it is never without fruit, which is the size of an apple, the skin tenuous, a little harsh, and of an ash colour, the pulp is white, and the interior full of seed. They remain from one year to the next upon the branches, which wholly shed their foliage, and only change when the tree puts forth its new leaves, and when already the new fruit, for the following year, is of good growth. Its wood is preferred for the shafts of the sege, or cabriolet.
Jiquitiba is a tree of considerable girth and affords a nut.
The Joazeiro, or Joaza-Tree, which grows in sandy soils, is of the size of a middling olive-tree; its tuft is round and thick; the leaves, which it scarcely sheds, are round and carefully protected; its wood is white, and its ashes are a good substitute for soap. The flower is in small and round bunches; the fruit is of the size of a cherry, oblong, yellow, disagreeable to the touch, and with a stone (full of smaller ones) which is difficult to divest of the pulp when the fruit is not half dried. It is aliment for some quadrupeds, and for the jacu and other birds, although few are well flavoured.
Mangabeira, or Mangaba-Tree, is of medium size, with small pointed leaves, and a flower like the jasmine; the fruit is round and of various sizes upon the same branch, with a yellow and greenish rind; the pulp white, extremely soft, with various seeds covered with down; the wood, the leaves, the flowers, and the fruit, when parted, distil a clammy and white milk.
The Mangue is a small tree, with a smooth rind, thick and varnished leaves. It prospers only upon the sea-coast or the margins of salt rivers.
The Mangueira, or Mangua-Tree, transplanted from Asia, and prospering only in the torrid zone, is a bulky tree, with a leafy tuft, having a long leaf a little narrow and pointed. The fruit is the size of an apple and a little flat, the skin similar to a greengage, green or yellow, and tinged sometimes with red; when divested of the skin, which has a turpentine taste, the pulp is juicy and delicious, although unpleasantly full of fibres attached to the stone.
Mozes is a tree of medium height, slender, with little tuft, remarkable for its foliage, which does not differ from the fern; its flower is white, and its ashes are good for the lixivium of soap.