16 DICOTYLEDONS 



Tarn. Ilavu; San. Piirani), and the White Silk CottQc. Tree 



{Eriodendron anfractiiosum ; Kan. Bill bilraga; Mai. Pula). Tlie 

 garden shrub Hibiscus schizopetalm has hanging flowers wit!: 

 ciliated petals; in H. miitabilis, Changeable Rose, the flowers 

 change from white to red in the course of the day; Roselle 

 {R. sahdariffa) has a red fleshy calyx from which jelly is made. 

 All of these have capsular fruits like the Cotton plant. Common 

 wild Mallows are Sida carpinifolia (Kan- Vishakaddi), S. rhombi- 

 folia, aS. cordifolia, Urena sinuaia, Abutilon indicum, all of 

 which have indehiscent carpels wliich, however, separate from 

 the axis of the fruit when ripe. Such fruits are called schizocarps. 



Allied Families. , 



The Chocolate Tree {Theobroma cacao, Plate No. 627) belongs tc; 

 the Sterculiacece, a family nearly allied to the Cotton family. The 

 Chocolate tree was introdued into India from tropical America. Its 

 gourd-like fruits contain, in their sour pulp, very bitter seeds, the so 

 called Cacao-beans (fig. 13, 3. 4). These are cleaned, roasted, and 

 powdered, and then become Cacao or Cocoa, which, mixed w!tl: ---or 

 and flavoured with Vanilla, makes Chocolate. 



Another allied family is the Tiliacece, of which we mention the Jute 

 (Cor chorus capsularis), a small shrub largely cultivated li: /Renp-.l xor 

 its fibre which is manufactured into coarse fabrics, such as gunny-bags, 

 the common coarse bags in which the various grains are sent to 

 market. It grows wild also here and there in Southern India and is 

 easily recognisable from its globular wrinkled capsules that resemble 

 Rudrakshi beads. 



6. The Tea Family 



(Ternstrcemiaceae). 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, generally leathery, 

 stipules 0. Flowers radial. Sepals and petals each five imbricate. 

 Stamens multiplesj|0f five. Ovary superior, three to five-celled. 



The Tea-shrub {Camellia theifera). 



(Plate No. G24.) 

 {Kan- Cagida. Mai. Cayaccatli. Tdtn. Tliay-ila.) 



The Tea-shrub is found wild in the jungles of Assam, but is 



