35 

 XXVI. BOMBACEvE. The Cotton Tree Tribe. 



Bo-mbace-k Kunth, Diss. Malv. p. 5. (1822) ; Dec. Prodr. 1. 475. (1824) ; A St. Hilaire Ft. Br. 

 merid. 1. 257. (1827) ; a section of Malvaceae. 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous polyadelphous 

 stamens, concrete carpella, an ovarium of several cells with the placentae in 

 the axis, a calyx with valvate aestivation, 1 -celled anthers bursting longitudi- 

 nally, no disk, flat cotyledons, and alternate stipulate leaves with stellate pu- 

 bescence. 



Anomalies. In Cheirostemon there are no petals, and the stamens are 

 united in a 1 -sided 5-lobed body. 



Essential Character. Sapals 5, cohering in a campanulate or cylindrical tube, which 

 is either truncate, or with 5 divisions : at the base of this, on the outside, arc sometimes a few 

 ininute bractese. Petals 5, regular ; or sometimes none, but in that case the inside of the 

 calyx is colored. Stamens 5, 10, 15, or more ; filaments cohering at the base into a tube, which 

 is soldered to the tube of the petals, divided at the apex into 5 parcels, each of which bears 

 one or more anthers, among which are sometimes some barren threads ; antkers 1-celled, 

 linear, reniform or anfractuose. Ovarium consisting of 5 carpella, rarely of 10, either partly 

 distinct or cohering strictly, and dehiscing in various ways ; styles as many as the carpella, 

 «ither distinct or more or less coherent; ovula2, or many more. Fruit variable, capsular,or inde- 

 hisccnt, usually with 5 valves, steptiferous in the middle. Seeds often enveloped in wool or pulp ; 

 sometimes albuminous, with flat cotyledons ; sometimes exalbuminous, with shrivelled or con- 

 vulute cotyledons. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, with stipulas. Pubescence of the 

 herbaceous parts stellate. 



Affinities, So near Malvaceae, that they may perhaps be considered 

 rather a section than a distinct order. They are however, often possessed of a 

 peculiar habit, being chiefly large trees, with broad umbrageous leaves, and fine 

 showy flowers. Their calyx is thick, and has not the regular valvate aestiva- 

 tion of true Malvaceae ; they are also known by their pentadelphous stamens. 

 The Hand plant of Mexico (Cheirostemon) owes its name to this latter cir- 

 cumstance ; its five bundles of stamens being thick, coloured, and all turned to 

 one side, so as to resemble a paw with five claws. 



Geography. The station seems to be the hottest parts of the world ; for the 

 Plagianthus of Forster, referred here by M. Decandolle, probably does not 

 belong to the order. The principal part of the species are South American or 

 West Indian ; a few Helicteres, one Eriodendron, one Bombax, and the Durio, 

 being all that are recorded from the East Indies, and Adansonia and Ophelus 

 being the only African plants of the order. 



Properties. These, like Malvaceae, are mucilaginous plants, having no 

 known deleterious. Bombax pentandrum, the Cotton Tree of India, yields a 

 gum, which is given in conjunction with spices in certain stages of bowel 

 complaints. Jlinslie, 2. 97. The largest tree in the world is the Adansonia, 

 or Baobab Tree, the trunk of which has been found with a diameter of 30 feet ; 

 but its height is not in proportion. " It is emollient and mucilaginous in all its 

 parts. The leaves dried and reduced to powder constitute Lalo, a favourite 

 article with the Africans, which they mix daily with their food, for the purpose 

 of diminishing the excessive perspiration to which they are subject in those 

 climates ; and even Europeans find it serviceable in cases of diarrhoea, fevers, 

 and other maladies. The fruit is, perhaps, the most useful part of the tree. Its 

 pulp is slightly acid and agreeable, and frequently eaten ; while the juice is 

 expressed from it, mixed with sugar, and* constitutes a drink, which is valued 

 as a specific in putrid and pestilential fevers." Hooker Bot. Mag. 2792. The 

 dried pulp is mixed with water, and administered, in Egypt, in dysentery. It 

 is chiefly composed of a gum, like Gum Senegal, a sugary matter, starch, and 

 an acid which appears to be the malic. Delile Cent. 12. The fruit of the 

 Durian is considered one of the most delicious productions of nature ; it is re- 



