354 ^44- STERCUI.IACEAE 



FAMILY 144. STERCULIACEAE 



Loaves alternate, stipulate, rarely (Hua) exstipulate. Sepals more or 

 less united, valvate in bud, rarely iCotylonychia) at first imbricate. Petals 5, 

 with contorted, rarely {Hua) valvate aestivation, sometimes adnate to the 

 staniinal tube, or rudimentary, or wanting. Stamens as many as the sepals or 

 more. Filaments usually more or less united. Anthers 2-celled, rarely 

 {TripIocJiilon) i -celled. Ovary superior, 3- or more-celled, or several free 

 ovaries, rarely ovary i — 2-celled. Ovules inverted, usually 2 or more to eacli 

 carpel. — Genera 28, species 470. (Including BUETTNERIACEAE and 

 TRIPLOCHITONACEAE.) (Plate 94.) 



1. Flowers unisexual or polygamous, without a corolla. Filaments united. 



Male flowers without staminodes. Styles free at the base or throughout. 



Trees. [Tribe STERCULIEAE.] \ 2 



Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely polygamous, but then, as nearly always, 

 provided with a corolla 7 



2. Carpels numerous, in several rows. Calyx-lobes 6 — 8, yellow or brown. 



Anthers numerous, arranged in a ring. — Species 2. West Africa. 



Octolobus Welw. 

 Carpels 3—12, in a single row. Calyx-lobes 4 — 5 3 



3. Anthers arranged irregularly, crowded in a head, numerous. Seeds 



albuminous 4 



Anthers arranged in a ring 5 



4. Calyx tubular, red. Ovules 2 in each carpel. Fruit with a membranous 



rind, one-seeded, dehiscing before the time of maturity. Leaves un- 

 divided. — Species I. West Africa. Yields fibre. (Under .S/t';T////a L.) 



Firmiana Marsigli 

 Calyx campanulate. Ovules more than 2 in each carpel. Fruit with 

 a woody or leathery rind, dehiscing at maturity. — Species 25. Tropical 

 and South Africa. Some species vield timber, fibre, gum (African 

 tragacanth), vegetables, edible fruits, oily seeds, and medicaments. 

 (Including Erihroma Pierre) Sterculia L. 



5. Anthers 4 — 5, inserted below the apex of the staminal column. Ovules 



2 in each carpel. Calyx shortly lobed. Ripe carpels woody, winged, 

 indehiscent. Seeds exalbuminous. — Species 3. Tropics. They yield 



timber, bark for tanning, and medicaments Heritiera Ait. 



Anthers 8 or more, rarely 5, but then inserted at the apex of the staminal 

 column. Ovules 3 or more in each carpel. Ripe carpels dehiscent. 6 



6. Seeds winged, albuminous. Leaves undivided. — Species 4. Central 



Africa. (Under Sicrculia L.) Pterygota Endl. 



Seeds wingless, exalbuminous. — Species 45. Central and South-east 

 Africa. Some species yield timber, vegetables, and edible seeds (cola- 

 nuts) which are also used medicinally. {Edvaniia Rafin.) Cola Schott 



