460 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



able in diaiThcea, &c. The bark is said to be febrifugal, and its fibres are 

 employed by certain African tribes, living where the tree is common, in the 

 manufacture of various articles of dress, cordage, &c. The Baobab-tree ia 

 also remarkable for its enormous size, and the gi-eat age to which it attains, 

 in some cases reputed to be several thousand years. One tree of this species 

 has been found to have a trunk from 90 to 100 feet in circumference. Their 

 hollowed trunks are used by the natives in some districts of Africa, as 

 burial-places for such of their dead as are believed to have communion with 

 evil spirits. 



Bombax. — B. Ceiba, the Silk-Cotton Tree of South America, and B. pen- 

 tandrum, the Silk-Cotton Tree of India, are both remarkable for their size 

 and height. The seeds of these plants are covered by long silky hairs ; hence 

 their common names. These hairs cannot be used like those of ordinary 

 cotton for manufacturing purposes, chiefly on account of the smoothness and 

 want of adhesion between their sides. They are used, however, in many 

 parts of the world for stufiing cushions, &c. The bark of B. pentandrum is 

 reputed to be emetic. 



Clieirostevion platanoides is the Hand-plant of Mexico. It derives its com- 

 mon name from the remarkable appearance of its flowers, the anthers and 

 style of which are so aiTanged as to resemble a hand furnished with long 

 claws, 



Chorisia speciosa has its seeds covered with silky hairs, which are used for 

 stuffing cushions, tSic. This material is termed Vegetable Silk. 



Durio zibethinus. — This tree, which is about the size of the ordinary pear- 

 tree, yields tlie fruit called Durian, which is highly esteemed in the south- 

 eastern parts of Asia, being accounted next in value to the Mangosteen. It 

 has, however, a strong smell, which renders it disagreeable at first, but this 

 quality is soon forgotten after the palate has become familiar with it. 



Eriodend7'on Samauma, a native of South America, is remarkable for its 

 great height. Its trunk frequently overtops all the surrounding trees before 

 it gives off a single branch. The hairy covering of the seeds of various 

 species of Eriodendron is employed for stuffing cushions and similar pur- 

 poses. 



Ochroma Lagopus, a West Indian tree, has an antisjTDhilitic bark, and a 

 spongy wood, which is sometimes used as a substitute for cork. 



Salinalia. — The bark of some species of this genus is said to be emetic, 

 and honey obtained from the flowers of S. malabarica is commonly regarded 

 as both emetic and purgative. 



Stercuha. — The seeds of Sierculia (Cola) acuminata, and probably of other 

 species, constitute tlie Kola-nuts of Tropical West Africa, and the Guru- 

 nuts of Soudan. They are largely used in various parts of Africa as food and 

 medicine, and are also commonly stated to be employed to sweeten water 

 which has become more or less putrid. Their use, however, as a purifier of 

 water is denied by Dr. Daniell. The latter writer made the interesting dis- 

 covery (which has been confirmed by Dr. Attfield) of the presence of theine, 

 the alkaloid of tea, &c., in Kola-nuts. The seeds of other species of Ster- 

 culia are also eaten in different parts of the globe. This is the case with 

 S. Chicha, and *S'. lasiantha in Brazil, and <S. nobilis in Asia. Sterculia 

 Tragacantha, a native of Sierra Leone, receives its specific name from yield- 

 ing a gum resembling Tragacanth. It is termed African Tragacanth, and 

 has been lately stated by Dr. Fliickiger to be a good substitute for the 

 officinal Tragacanth. (See Astragalus.) S. itrens, a native of Coromandel, 

 yields a gum of a similar nature, wliich is called Grum Kutteera. (See also 

 Cochlospermirm.) Tlie fruit, seeds, leaves, or bark of other species of Sterculia, 

 are also used for various purposes as medicinal agents in different parts of 

 the globe. The seeds of all the species contain a fixed oil, which may be 

 used for burning in lamps, &c. According to Hooker, S. vlllosa and »Si. 

 guttata yield fibres, from which ropes of excellent quality, and cloth are 

 made. 



Natural Order 30. BYTTNEUiACEiE. — Tlie Chocolate Order. — 

 Character. — Trees, shrubs, or undershrubs, sometimes climb- 



