Adansoma,] xxi. malvace^. * 223 



1. A. Gregorii, F, Muell. in Hook. Kew Joum.ix, 14. A large tree, 

 not lofty in proportion to its size, with an enormous gouty stem, attaining 

 from 30 to 80 ft, in circumference, and usually contracted under the nmin 

 branches of the head. Leaflets 5, 7, or rarely 9, oblong-lanceolate, acumi- 

 nate, the larger ones 4 to 5 in. long, narrowed at the base but rarely petiolu- 

 late, minutely pubescent above, white-tomentose underneath. Flowers of a 

 yellowish-white, on pedicels of 1 to U inch. Calyx oblong and entire in the 

 bud, and little more than | in. diameter, attaining 3 in. in length, and split- 

 tuig into 3 to 5 lobes as the flower opens^ tomentose outside, silky-villous 

 insule. Petals 5 or rarely 4, cuneate- oblong, fully 4 in. long, silky-villous 

 outside in their upper portion. Staminal column pubescent outside, ratlicr 

 snorter than the filaments. Fruit resembling a small gom-d, in our specimens 

 about 6 in. long and 3 to 4 in. diameter, but probably often lai'ger, of a 

 brownish-red colour, densely tomentose, exuding a dark red gum. 



*** Australia. Sandy plains and low stony ridges, from the Glenelg to the western 

 shores of Arnhem's Laod, and rarely ahove 100 miles inland, F, Mueller, 0. BenueU, and 

 others. The interior substance of the fruit has an agreeable acidity, and, boiled with sui^rar, 

 2Q9 "^^^™^ serv^ice in scorbutic complaints. (See G. Bennett, * Ga'therings of a Naturalist/ 



^ Ihe African A. digifata, which is closely allied, and^ according \o G. Bennett, has pi 



ciseJy the same fruit (above a foot long in our specimens), differs chitlly in broader leaflets, „ 



broader calyx more regularly 5-cleft, broader petals, and still more numerous and shorter 



pre- 

 a 



filaments. 



15. BOMBAX, Liim. 



(Salmalia, Schott.) 



Staminal co- 

 or nearly all, 



Calyx cup-sliapcd, truncate, or splitting into 3 to 5 lobes, 

 iunui divided into numerous filaments, of wliicli the inner ones, 

 ^re more or less connected in pairs and united at the base into 5 or more 

 buudleg. Ovary 5 -celled, with several ovules in each cell; style club-shaped, 

 ^r shortly 5-lolied at the top. Capsule woody or coriaceous, opening loculi- 

 oulally in 5 valves, the cells densely woolly inside. Seeds obovoid or glo- 

 hular, enveloped in the wool of the pericarp ; albumen thin ; cotyledons much 

 folded round the radicle. — Trees. Leaves digitate, with leaflets usually 

 entu-e. Peduncles 1-flowered, axillarv or terminal. Flowers white or red. 



The species are chiefly South American, with one from tropical Africa, ancl aaothcr from 

 wopical Asia extending also into Australia. 



1- B. malabaricum, DC. Prod. i. 479. A large tree, the trunk 



covered wltli short conical prickles. Leaves on long petioles, deciduous ; 

 leaflets 5 to 7, petiolulate, elliptical-oblong, acuminate, 4 to 6 in. long, coria- 

 ceons, entire, glabrous. Flowers large, red, on short pedicels, clustered toivards 

 the ends of the branches which are then destitute of leaves. Calyx above 1 in. 

 'ong, thick and coriaceous, glabrous outside, siiky-hairy inside, dividing into 

 snort broad obtuse lobes. Tetals fully 3 in. long, oblong, tomentose out- 

 side, nearly glabrous within. Staminal column short, filaments much longer, 



|>iit shorter than the petals, five iunermost forked at the top, each branch 

 "eanng an anther, about 10 intermediate ones simple, and the numerous 



outer ones shortly united in 5 clusters. Capsule large, oblong, and woody. 



:^Salmalia maldbarica, Schott, Meletem. 35 ; Bombax hejfaphjlla, Cav. ; 



««xb. PI. Corom. iii. 43, t. 247 ; Wight, 111. t. 29. 



