[76 



STERCULIACEM, 



TCHAP. 



{Bombax). These latter agree in the general structure of 

 their flowers with the type, but they are large trees, and the 

 two last-named have digitate leaves. 



T9. Natural Order, Sterculiacece. — The Sterculia Family. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs with alternate simple or digitate 

 leaves. Calyx valvate. Stamens monadelphous, with two- 

 celled anthers. 



Type — SierciiUa foetida. 



A large, deciduous tree, with alternate digitate leaves 

 crowded towards the ends of the branches, and racemose, 

 crimson and brown, hairy, unisexual flowers. 



Observe the two-celled anthers, collected into a small, 

 close head : in the female flower a few imperfect stamens 

 may be found immediately under the stipitate ovary. 

 Compare with the type, Helicte7'es (Isora), and several 

 other common Indian genera of the Family {Pterospermum, 

 Pentapetes, Waltheria, &c.), in which the corolla is present 

 and the flowers are hermaphrodite. Observe the unequal 

 petals of Heliciei'cs and the remarkable spirally-twisted 

 carpels of the fruit. 



The Chocolate and Cocoa-tree {Tkeobroma), cultivated in 

 the northern provinces of South America, Central America. 



