302 EL^OCARP^. [part ii. 



The stamens are numerous, and the filaments 

 separate, bearing two-celled anthers, which burst 

 by long slits. The ovary has only one style, the 

 tip of which is cleft into five small stigmas ; and 

 it is divided into five cells, each containing one 

 or two ovules. The fruit or capsule (h) is round, 

 and has a leathery skin, covered with a soft 

 down ; and when ripe, the cells often become 

 united so as to form one, with only one or two 

 perfect seeds in the whole capsule, the other 

 ovules proving abortive. The whole plant 

 abounds in mucilage, and the sap when boiled 

 affords sugar. The inner bark is so tough and 

 fibrous, that it is used for making what are 

 called bast mats : it being first rendered flexi- 

 ble by steeping it for a long time in water. The 

 wood is of very fine texture, but soft and wdiite, 

 and it is thus admirably adapted for carving. 

 The American Limes have a small scale at the 

 base of each petal of the flower ; but the other 

 differences between the species are very slight. 



ORDER XXXII.— ELyEOCARP.E.— THE EL^OCARPUS 

 TRIBE. 



East India shrubs and trees, little known in 

 Britain. " The hard and wrinkled seeds of 

 Elseocarpus are made into necklaces in the 

 East Indies, and, set in gold, are sold in our 

 shops."— (^^o/f.) 



