206 . SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ON 
completely protect it. Later on a small bud arises above, but 
close to the base of the middle one, and another below the latter 
arises contemporaneously with the uppermost. Both the small 
buds seem to elongate during the following spring. 
MALVACEX. 
Pachira aquatica, Aubl.— Leaves alternate, petiolate, stipulate, 
digitate, with 7-11 oblanceolate, entire, glabrous leaflets arranged 
in a complete circle round the apex of the petiole; petiole terete, 
suddenly much thickened at the base. 
Stipules ovate, acuminate, inserted upon the axis and partly 
lying in front of the petiole of their own leaf, erect, membranous 
at the edges, convolute in bud, caducous on the axillary, persistent 
on the resting terminal buds, but falling away on their expansion. 
Terminal bud narrowly conical, sharply pointed, and covered by 
the convolute stipules. The leaves themselves are in the form of 
a narrow cone, pointed and somewhat compressed or flattened on 
one side. The leaflets are erect and conduplicate, with their 
edges in the centre of the cone, but as they unfold they become 
reflexed, umbrella-fashion, and gradually increase in size. 
Axillary buds represented by a slightly elevated cushion with a 
darker spot in the centre; but they rarely, if ever, develop upon 
young plants: hence perhaps the stipules are caducous, being 
unnecessary, as 1s the ease with Sterculia Jfotida. 
STERCULIACES. 
Sterculia fætida, Linn.—Leaves alternate, petiolate, stipulate, 
digitate, glandular pubescent, but more particularly on the 
nerves, persistent; leaflets 7-11, oblong-lanceolate, narrowed to 
the base, sessile, arranged in a complete circle round the thickened 
apex of the petiole, with which they are articulated, but sessile. 
Petiole long, terete, greatly thickened at the base, where it 18 
‘lightly thickened on the upper surface. 
The persisting leaves are arranged in a dense tuft at the aper 
of the stem. 
Stipules ovate-subulate, suddenly acuminate, inserted oD the 
stem close to the thickened base of the petiole, eaducous on the 
axillary, persistent on the terminal buds, but falling away ?" 
their expansion. 
Terminal bud large, consisting of a dense, conical, imbricated 
mass of leaves and stipules; the latter equal the leaves in length 
