266 M. Schomburgk on the Ant Tree of Guiana, 



Bhould approach the tree to pluck the blossoms, would bit- 

 terly rue his attempt. The trunk and branches of the tree are 

 hollow, like those of the trumpet tree {Cecropia), and provided 

 between space and space with partitions, which answer to the 

 position of the leaves on the outside. 



These hollows are inhabited by a light brownish ant, about 

 two to three tenths of an inch long, which inflicts the most 

 painful bites. Its antenna are placed near the middle of the 

 anterior portion of the head ; mandibles triangular ; peduncle 

 of the abdomen with two rings ; the anus haiiy and provided 

 with a sting or piercer {Myrmica, Latr., nova species). They 

 fall upon their prey with the greatest virulence, and insert 

 their mandibles almost instantly, as soon as they come in 

 contact with any soft substance, emitting a whitish fluid ; their 

 bite causes swelling and itching for several days. If they find 

 themselves captured, they attack and kill one another like the 

 scorpions. 



The Arawak Indians call the tree Jacuna, and the ant Ja- 

 cuna sae ; the Warrows Epouahari, the literary translation 

 being ant tree ; the Caribis Itassi ; the colonists, from its 

 growth, "long John." 



The presence of the scarious stipulae, in the form of an 

 ochrea, is sufficient to determine the natural order to which 

 Triplaris belongs ; other evidences, namely, the formation of 

 its leaves, its organs of fructification, and particularly the erect 

 ovulum and the superior radicle, put its relationship to Pohj- 

 gonecB beyond doubt. It resembles strikingly the Coccoloba in 

 the form of its petiole, and the manner in which it is attached 

 to the stem ; we have in Coccoloba a similar mark opposite 

 the petiole, and those asperities which are to be found below 

 the latter organ are likewise observable in Triplaris. In Coc- 

 coloba the calyx swells and forms a juicy berry, in Triplaris it 

 becomes three times as large as the nut. In its hollow trunk 

 and branches, and the septums of the latter ; in the division of 

 the sexes, it resembles Cecropia ; but to these affinities in ap- 

 pearance but little importance can be attached. 



Triplaris has received hitherto a very meagre description. 

 Jacquin gives the representation of its fruit, and Aublet a 

 branch ; it is however evident that the flowers of the male 



