No other Sterculia has been remarked to produce such 

 a gum as that collected from this tree ; but it is probable 

 that many others would yield the same substance, as it 

 seems nothing more than the concrete state of the mucilage, 

 which is so universal in the order, and which is one of the 

 signs of affinity between Sterculiaceae and Malvaceae. 



Besides its use as a medicinal plant, this species has no 

 particular claim to interest the cultivator, its flowers being 

 far from ornamental, and the foliage being very inferior in 

 beauty to the more common Sterculia Balanghas. It will 

 always require the heat of the stove, where it may be 

 increased, we presume without difficulty, by cuttings. 



Branchlets downy, ferruginous. Leaves alternate, pe- 

 tiolate, oblong, cuspidate, generally rounded at each end, 

 quite entire, except at the apex, which is sometimes bifid 

 or trifid, smooth upon the upper surface, downy on the 

 under, and upon the petiole ; the down is formed of stellate 

 hairs. Panicles densely downy, contracted, axillary, either 

 shorter or longer than the leaves. Calyx campanulate, 

 downy, brownish purple, 5-cleft, the segments cohering at 

 the apex. Stamens those of the genus. Pistilla not seen. 



J. L. 



NOTE. 



Since the foregoing matter was sent to press, we have received an early copy of the new 

 Ilortns Britannicns of Mr. Loudon, in which we find, p. 392, a Sterculia, mentioned 

 under the name of pubescens of Mr. George Don, which is described as a native of 

 (ruinea, forming an evergreen tree, 20 feet high. Possibly this may be the same as 

 S. Tragacantha ; hut its flowers are said to be white, and the period of its introduction 

 179'i. The want of description prevents our ascertaining whether this conjecture is well 

 founded or not ; but we think it right to advert to the name. At the same time we may 

 take the present opportiinity of expressing our admiration of the mannei' in which the 

 very extraordinary Catalogue now referred to has been executed. The number of species 

 admitted into it amoimts to 28,565, exclusive of varieties. This, after deducting the 

 flowerless British species, amounting to 26(j3, is a much more extensive list than any that 

 has yet appeared. But it is not on account of the number of its species that it deserve* 

 attention, — as this is a subject upon which some difference of opinion may exist, — it i» 

 the beauty of its type, the excellent arrangement of its matter, the vast quantity of useful 

 gardening information that it contains, and the careful application of the soundest 

 }»rinciples of orthography and etymology to the accentuation and termination of the 

 systematic names, that give it a claim to be considered a classical work in the literature 

 of gardening. Its perfection in the latter respect is due to Mr. Alexander Rowan, whose 

 labour merits the grateful acknowledgment of all readers, and will be found not less useful 

 to the Botanist, who is too apt to overlook such points, than to the Gardener, to whom 

 an accurate guide for writing and speaking a language, of which he cannot be expected ta 

 possess a critical knowledge, is invaluable. It would have been perhaps better, and more 

 conformable to the present state of science, as the Linnean and Natural system of Botany 

 ai-e both introduced, if the former had been made subordinate to the latter. We can, 

 however, apj)reciate, and at the same time admit, the force of the motives that have 

 induced the editor to adopt an opposite plan, which is, after all, of less importance, as there 

 is already a very useful and recent Catalogue by Mr. Sweet, arranged, upon the Natural 

 system. 



