168 : MONADELPHIA DODECANDRIA, Bombazx. 
smooth. Border in general obscurely three or four-parted ; 
as the coro] expands, these are often so much split, as to ap- 
pear four, five, or more cleft, separating to near the perma- 
nent base, which, with the corol and stamina, drop off in one 
body. Coro! of five, very distinct, oblong, first spreading, 
then recurved, contorted, smooth, deep red, fleshy, oblong 
petals, of about twice the length of the stamens. Filaments 
in two series; the amterior ones pressing on the style, and 
consisting of ‘five longer and thicker, and ten shorter; the 
exterior series contains from fifty to sixty, united into five, 
distinct phalanges, all these are united at the base, into one 
fleshy envelope for the germ. Anthers incumbent, involute, 
reniform, those of the larger filaments of the interior series are 
double, on all the rest single pollen, the colour of Scotch snuff. 
Germ conical, Style longer than the stamina, Stigmas five, 
subulate, recurved. Capsule oblong, tapering equally to-— 
ward each end, five-celled, five-valved, downy on the outside. 
Seeds nuinerous, obovate,smooth, except a sharp, cross-shaped 
_ ridge on one side, immersed in a very large quantity of very 
fine silky wool ; this wool does not adhere to the seeds, but 
rather seems to grow from the inside of the valves of the 
capsule. — a gh 9 | 
In my description of this tree, I have been particularly 
full, because I am inclined to think it differs essentially from 
the West Indian’ species, which Linneus called Ceiba. 
Jacquin’s full, and I presume, accurate description of that tree 
is now before me, and leaves in my mind little doubt of their | 
being very different. This and the former pentandrum, are 
the only species of this genus I have hitherto met with in In- _ 
dia, except B. gossypinum, which is polyandrous. If this - 
be not what Linnzus calls B. heptaphyllum, and Jacquin, 
_ Septenatum, [ cannot say what it is, He quotes Moul elavou 
of the Hortus Malabaricus for it; and at the same time 
points it out to be an American tree. Be that as it may, 
there can be no doubt of Rheed’s plant being the one I have. 
now described and figured. vA, BD 8 
