92 THALAMIFLOU^, 



tube, pentadelphous at the apex, with the brother- 

 hoods connected throughout, filiform, bearing at the 

 apex 2-3 linear or winding anthers (so as to resemble 

 a single anther). In other respects as in the genus, 



BOMBAX. 



Name, from sg/ov wool or down, and btvb^ov a tree. 



1 . Eriodendron anfractuosum. TF^est India Cotton- 

 tree. 



Anthers anfractuose, leaflets entire, stems generally 

 aculeate. 



Gossypium arboreum maximum spinosura, Sloane, II. 72. — 

 Bombax f'oliis digitatis, brachiis erecto-patentibus, Broione, 111 . 

 — B. pentandrum, ./ac^'. ^wjer. 191. t. 176. f. 70. — Cav. diss, V. 

 293. t. 151. — Eriodendron anfractuosum, De Cand. Prod. I. 

 ^l^.—Bot. 3Iag. 3360. 



HAB. Common every wbere. 



FL. Beginning of tlie year. 



A lofty tree with the stem straight, columnar, armed when 

 young with strong acuminate spines ; in some, dividing low 

 down ; in others rising to the height of 30-80 feet before it gives 

 off the branches. Occasionally it is ventricose at some distance 

 from the ground, so that it is thicker there, than it is towards 

 the root. In old trees, several broad spurs, like buttresses, are 

 stretched to the distance of several feet or even yards. In 

 situations where it is sheltered from the east or north, our 

 prevailing winds, the branches form a large and regular head, 

 and afford an extensive shade. But where it is less favourably 

 situated, and especially if the stem be lofty, the branches may 

 be observed to be deficient on the side which is exposed. The 

 branches are horizontal or spreading. Leaves palmate : leaf- 

 lets 6-7, obiongo-lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers very numer- 

 ous, strewed in great abundance below the trees, during the 

 period of flowering ; of a pale rose-colour, giving out a peculiar 

 smell, compared by some to that of cheese., and by others to that 

 of primroses. Calyx persistent, obtusely 5-fid, with the seg- 

 ments unequal. Petals obovato-oblong, shining and tinged 

 with purple internally, sericeo-pubescent externally, reflected. 

 Column of the filaments entire and tubular at the base, dividing 

 into 5 erecto-patent trigonal branches: anthers linear, Avinding 

 in diff^erent directions, forming three circumvolutions, constitut- 

 ing a large oblong, apparently single, anther. Ovary concealed 

 in the tube of the column : style length of the stamens, terete, 

 purplish : stigmata of 5 lanceolate pellucido-puberulons lobes. 

 Capsule orali-oblong, terete, obtuse, 5-celled, 5-valved: valves 



