272 



XXIV. STERCULIACE.E. 



[Sierculia. 



A tree about 20 to 30 ft. tall. Leaves membranous, oljovate- 

 oblong, shortly abruptly acuminate, base narrowed acute, rounded 

 or cordate above glabrous, beneath stellate-pubescent ; midrib 

 and 7 to 10 pairs elevated nerves more hairy, 4-5 to y^ rarely to 

 12 in. long, 2 to 3, rarely 6 in. across; petioles "3 to i"5 in. long, 

 rufous-tomentose. Panicles solitary, axillary pendent 3 to 6 in. 

 long, rufous-tomentose. Male flowers yellow with pink hairs and 

 5 dark red blotches at the base inside, widely campanulate, lobes 



Fig. 



-Sterculia rubiginosa. 



linear-lanceolate. Staminal column longer than the tube ; anthers 

 10, yellow. Female flowers on different sprays of the same tree, 

 lobes of calyx lanceolate, free nearly to the base, hairy with pink 

 and white hairs, except at the base where are 5 pink spots. Gyno- 

 phore short with 10 anthers at base of pistil. Ovary villous; 

 styles united. Stigmas 3 or 5, all greenish white. Folhcles 5, 

 coriaceous, oblong, shortly beaked, 2 in. long, i in. wide, pubescent 

 outside, crimson scarlet. Seed elUpsoid, blue black. Hah. Com- 

 mon in M'oods in open country, whole peninsula from Singapore 



