276 CRESCENTIA, PAfiMENTIEEA, AND KIGELIA. 



v.B.p.US. C. trifolia, JBlanco, Fl. de Filipinas, j9. 489 !— Nomina 



vernacula, in Mexico, " Guautecomate," " Tecomate," et " Q 



in Ins. Pidlip., "Hoja cruz." 



A tree, about 30 feet Mgb, resembling in general aspect O. Cujete, and 

 growing commonly on the western coast of Mexico, from Acapulco to 

 Mazatlan, where I have repeatedly met with it, and where Gregg (no. 

 944), as well as Humboldt and Bonpland, also found it. According 

 to Blanco, it is cultivated in the Philippine Islands, where, from the re- 

 semblance of the central leaf to a cross, it is vernacularly termed " Hoja 

 cruz." I observed it in the gardens of the town of David, Veraguas. 

 It will probably never be cultivated to any great extent, as its fruit is 

 scarcely ever larger than a good-sized orange, and consequently too 

 small for making from its shell, as of that of C. Cujete, pails and other 

 large vessels. I must not omit however to mention that I have seen 

 cups, made from the shells of this species, in the markets of Mazatlan. 

 The chief use the Mexicans make of the fruit, is to boil the pulp with 

 sugar, and administer it internally to those suffering from complaints 

 of the chest (consumption ?). The inhabitants of the Philippine Islands 

 consider, according to Blanco, a decoction of the leaves an effectual 

 remedy for hsemoptysis. 



■ 

 w 



III. KiGELiA, De Cand. 



r 



Calycc deciduus, tubuloso-subcampanulatus, bilabiatus, labiis irregula- 

 riter "fissis et hinc calycem spurie 5-fidum constitueutibus. Corolla 

 resupinata, tubo brevi, fauce lata carapanulata, limbo subsequaliter 

 5-lobo, lobis ovatis acuminatis. Stamina 4, didynama, cum quinto 

 sterili. Antlter(B biloculares, loculis basi longe discretis. Dkcm 

 glandulosus, ovarii basin cingens. Stylm staminum fere longitudiae. 

 Stigma bilamellalum. Ovarium, uniloculare, glabrum, placentis parie- 

 talibus. Bacca ellipsoidea vel lineari-oblonga, cortice corticate, intus 

 pulposa, spurie bilocularis. Semina in pulpa nidulantia, subrotunda 

 vel obovoidea, testa fuscescente. Albumen nullum. Cotyledones rotun- 

 datse, externe Ibngitudinaliter plicatse, segregat^e (ex De Cand.). 

 Arbor Africm tropica; ramis diver gentihus^ cortice albido; foliis oppo- 

 sitis simplicibits (in plantis juniorihus) vel pari- vel impari-jnnnatis ; 

 foliolis (5-11) elUpticis vel ovato-ellipticis, nan raro incequalibus, ter- 

 minali oLomto, integerrimia vel mhrepando-dentatlB^ coriaceiSy utrmque 

 gJaberrimis; paniculis longissime pedimculatis, Dendentibus. e trunco 



