3l> STERCULiACEyE. [Stercidia. 



A considerable gwius, widely distributed over the tropical regions both of the New and tbe 

 Old World, but chiefly in the latter, a very few species extending beyond the tropics in Asia 

 or Australia. 



Leaves oblong or lanceolate, entire. Panicles slender, short .... 1. 5. lanceolata. 

 Leaves broad, palmately lobed. Panicle large, terminal 2. S. platanifolia. 



1. S. lanceolata. Cat.; Lindl. Bot. Reg. t. 1256. A small tree. 

 Leaves stalked, elliptical-oblong or nearly lanceolate, 3 to 6 in. long, quite 

 entire, coriaceous and glabrous. Panicles much branched, slender, sessile in 

 the axils of the leaves and usually shorter than them, more or less tomen- 

 tose. Calyx 5 -cleft nearly to the base, the segments oblong-lanceolate, near 

 3 lines long, spreading, not bearded as in some other species, green, and 

 slightly reddish at the base. Staminal column shorter than the sepals, and 

 usually rolled inwards. Anthers 10, nearly sessile on the outside of the very 

 short lobes, forming a globular terminal head. Follicles slightly tomentose, 

 sessile, broadly ovate when ripe and open, 1| to 2 in. long, coriaceous, of a 

 bright scarlet, with 1 or 2 black seeds on each edge near the base. 



Common in the Happy Valley woods, Champion and others. Also in the adjacent parts 

 of S. China, but not as yet identified with any specimens from elsewhere. 



2. S. platanifolia, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 483. A handsome tree. 

 Leaves on long stalks, nearly orbicular, palmately lobed, cordate at the base, 

 6 or 8 in. or even more in breadth, glabrous or minutely tomentose under- 

 neath. Flowers small, of a yellowish green, in large terminal panicles. Calyx 

 about 4 lines long, deeply 5 -cleft, but scarcely spreading. Staminal column 

 considerably longer. Anthers about 15, the cells usually unequal and very 

 irregularly crowded in a terminal head. In the female flowers there are often 

 imperfect, sessile anthers round the base of the ovary. Carpels stipitate, 

 opening into follicles long before they are ripe, attaining full 3 in. in' length, 

 green and glabrous, or pubescent, with 1 or 2 seeds on each edge near the 

 base. — Firmiana platanifolia, Br. in PI. Jav. Ear. 235. 



A native of China, much planted in E. Asia, and said by Champion to have become na- 

 turalized in Hongkong. 



2. HERITIERA, Ait. 



Flowers usually monoecious. Calyx campanulate, 5 -lobed or 5 -toothed. 

 Petals 0. Staminal column in the males cylindrical, with 5 anthers sessile in 

 a ring round the summit. Ovary in the females consisting of 5 carpels con- 

 nected by the short style, with one erect ovule in each. Pipe carpels distinct, 

 large, hard and almost woody, indehiscent. Seeds without albumen. — Trees, 

 with the habit and inflorescence of some of the entire-leaved Sterculias. 



A genus of 2 species, confined to the seacoasts of Asia, Australia, and the islands of the 

 Pacific. 



1. H. littoralis, Ait. ; Br. in PI. Jav. Bar. p. 237. A tree attaining 

 a considerable size. Leaves very shortly stalked, oval or oblong, the larger 

 ones 8 in. by 4, but often much smaller, quite entire, coriaceous, glabrous 

 above, silvery underneath, with a close scaly tomentum. Flowers small, nu- 

 merous, in loose terminal tomentose panicles, much shorter than the leaves. 

 Calyx about 2 lines long. Staminal column, or ovary, much shorter. Pipe 

 carpels sessile, ovoid, full 2 in. long, thick and almost woody, with a slightly 



