300 BYTTNERIACE^. [part ii. 



(Adansonia digitata)^ said to be the largest tree 

 in the world ; the Screw tree (Helic feres Isora), 

 so named from its curiously-twisted fruit ; Caro- 

 linia princeps ; the Silk Cotton tree {Bombax 

 Ceiba); and the Hand-plant {Cheirostemon plata- 

 noides)^ — this is the Hand-plant so named from 

 the lobes of its leaves resembling fingers, — all 

 stove plants in Britain. 



ORDER XXX.-BYTTNERIACE^.— THE BYTTXERIA 

 TRIBE. 



This order is divided into five sections, which 

 some botanists make distinct orders. It is very 

 nearly aihed to Malvaceae, but the anthers are 

 two-celled. The principal genus in the first 

 section {StercidiecE) is Sterculia, which has 

 several carpels distinct and arranged like a star : 

 the species are trees with large handsome leaves 

 which are articulated at the base, and axillary 

 panicles or racemes of flowers. The second section 

 {ByttneriecB) contains among other plants Theo- 

 broma Cacao, from the fruit and seeds of which 

 Cocoa and Chocolate are prepared. The third 

 section (LasiopetalecB) is well known in England, 

 by the pretty Australian shrubs included in the 

 genera Thomasia and Lasiopetalum, the leaves 

 of which have their under surface downy, and 

 generally brown. The fourth section {Herman- 

 niece), and the sixth {Wallichiece), contain no 



