hæmatostaphis

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The name given by Sir J. D. Hooker in 1860 to a monotypic genus of tropical African plants belonging to the natural order Anacardiaceæ, tribe Spondieæ, and characterized by the possession of 3 unequal imbricate petals and 6 stamens in the flower, an oblong drupe, and pinnate leaves. The species, H. Barteri, is a small tree with twisted branches and small white flowers in elongated axillary panicles. The fruit is red, edible, has an acid flavor, and is called bloodplum. The tree inhabits the banks of the Niger river.