THE DICOTYLEDONES 



1789 



Tilia vulgaris is the Common Lime (Fig. 1681) which is frequently 

 planted in this country, while T. americaua is the Basswood, a native of 

 North America, but often cultivated in Britain. Corchortis capstilaris, an 

 annual which grows about 10 ft. high, is a native of India. The stems are 

 cut and retted in water and the fibres beaten out. They provide the Jut&or 

 Gunny of commerce. Commercial fibres are also obtained from species of 

 Grewia and Triumfetta. The hard phloem fibres of the Common Lime 

 supply the Bast used by gardeners in tying plants. 



Fig. 1 68 1. — Tilia vulgaris. Lime. A, Vertical section 

 of flower. B, Inflorescence with adnate wing- 

 bract. 



The Bombacaceae, which are a small family of some twenty genera and 

 140 species, include several interesting plants. They are mostly very tall 

 trees wath thick trunks. One of the best-known supplies the Kapok of 

 commerce. This is Eriodendron anfractuosum which is widely distributed 

 in the tropics. The Kapok is obtained from the silky hairs which envelop 

 the seeds. In contrast to this is Diirio sibethinus, the Durian, which 

 has been cultivated in Malaya for the edible fruits, possibly since the 

 fifteenth century. The flowers are produced in cymes and the fruits are 

 oval in shape and about 6 in. long. They are covered externally by woody 

 protuberances. There are four loculi and each has several seeds surrounded 

 by a clear, pale brown, custard-like pulp with a strong odour and a rich 

 taste which is not usually attractive to Europeans. The ash contains up to 

 nearly 2 15 per cent, of sugar. Despite its unpleasant smell the Durian is 

 very greatly esteemed among the natives. 



Another member of the Bombacaceae is Ochroma lagopiis which is a 

 native of South America and the West Indies. The seeds are embedded in 

 hairs which are employed in the preparation of floss. The wood is composed 

 of large elements with unusually thin walls, and as a consequence it is 

 extremely light. It is sold under the name of Balsa or Cork wood and is 

 used extensively in model-building, particularly in the wooden parts of 

 model aeroplanes. 



Also included in this family is the Silk Cotton Tree or Semul, Bomhax 



