STERCULIA 



STEREOSPERMUM 



1723 



follicular, each carpel distinct ami either woody or 

 membranaceous and sometimes opening and spreading 

 into a leaf-like body long before maturity (Fig. 2399); 

 seeds 1-many, sometimes arillate or winged, sometimes 

 hairy. Sterculias have very various foliage, the leaves 

 of different species being simple, palmately lobed or 

 digitate. The flowers are mostly in panicles or large 

 clusters, sometimes large and showy, varying from 

 greenish to dull red and scarlet. The species are grown 

 mostly for street and lawn trees. The only kiuds that 

 are generally known in this country are S. platanifolia, 

 8. diversifolia and N. aeerifolia, the last two known in 

 California as Braebychitons. All are easily grown from 

 seeds. Sterculiaeeous plants are allied to the Malvaeea?. 



"2399. Mature follicles or fruits of Sterculia platanifolia. bear- 

 ing seeds on the margins. Natural size. 



A. Carpels expanding before maturity into leaf-like 

 bodies, exposing the seeds. 



platanifolia, Linn. f. (Firmiana platanifolia, Schott 

 & Endl.). Japanese Varnish Tree. Chinese Parasol 

 Tree. Fig. 2:599. Strong-growing, smooth-barked, 

 round-headed tree of medium size, with deciduous foli- 

 age: lvs. very large, glabrous, cordate-orbicular, pal- 

 mately 3-5-lobed like maple lvs., the lobes sharp- 

 pointed: fls. small, greenish, with reflexed calyx-lobes, 

 in terminal panicles: carpels 4 or 5, bearing globular 

 pea-like seeds. — Said to be native of China and Japan. 

 Hemsley admits it to the "Flora of China," and Sargent 

 says in "Forest Flora of Japan "that it is one of the 

 several Chinese or Corean trees grown in Japan. 

 Bentham, in "Flora Hongkongensis," says that it is 

 native to China. Frauchet and Savatier, in"Enurueratio 

 Plantarum Japonicarum," admit it as an indigenous 

 Japanese species. Now a frequent tree from Georgia 

 south. Excellent for lawns and shade. 



aa. Carpels not becoming leaf-like. 

 b. Lvs. all digitately compound. 



fcetida, Linn. Tall, handsome tree, with all parts gla- 

 brous except the young foliage : lvs. crowded at the ends 



of the branchlets, of 5-11 elliptic, oblong or lanceolate, 

 entire, pointed, thick leaflets: fls. large, dull red, in 

 simple or branched racemes, appearing with the lvs.: 

 fr. large and woody follicles, glabrous outside, often 

 3 in. or more in diam. and containing black seeds the 

 size of a hazelnut. Tropical Africa and Asia to Aus- 

 tralia.— Grown in southern Florida. In its native coun- 

 tries, the seeds are said to be roasted and eaten. 



bb. Lvs. entire or only lobed (compound forms some- 



times borne on S. diversifolia). 



C. Follicles pubescent outside and corky inside. 



alata, Roxbr. Large tree, the young parts yellow- 

 pubescent, the bark ash-colored: lvs. large, e<>r<l;itr- 

 ovate, acute, 7-nerved: fls. about 1 in. across, in few- 

 fld. panicles shorter than the lvs., and which arise from 

 the leafless axils, the calyx toinentose and the segments 

 linear-lanceolate: follicles 5 in. in diam., globose, with 

 wide-winged seeds. India. — Introd. into S. Florida. 

 CC. Follicles glabrous on the outside, usually villous 

 within. 



acerifdlia, A. Cunn. (Brachychiton aceri folium, F. 

 Muell.). Brachychiton. Flame Tree. Evergreen 

 tree, reaching a height of GO ft., glabrous: lvs. long- 

 petioled, large, deeply 5-7-lobed, the lobes oblong- 

 lanceolate to rhomboid, glabrous and shining: fls. bril- 

 liant scarlet, the calyx about ; . ! 4 in. long, in large, showy 

 trusses: follicles large, glabrous, long-stalked. Aus- 

 tralia.— A most showy tree when in bloom, and planted 

 on streets and lawns in California. Thrives in either 

 dry or fairly moist places. 



diversifdlia, G. Don ( Brachychiton popiilneum, R.Br.). 

 Brachychiton. Tall tree, glabrous except the fls.: 

 lvs. very various, mostly ovate to mute-lanceolate in 

 outline, often entire, sometimes variously 3-5-lobed on 

 the same tree, all parts acuminate: fls. tomentose when 

 young, bell-shaped, greenish red and white or yellowish 

 white, in axillary panicles: follicles lK-3in. long, ovoid, 

 glabrous, stalked. Australia. — Planted in California, 

 and commoner than the last. 



Var. occidentalis, Benth. (Brachych)ton Gre'gorii, 

 F. Muell. S. Gregorii, Hort.). Lvs. deeply 3-lobed, the 

 lobes narrow, sometimes with short lateral ones : rls. 

 salmon-color; calyx smaller and more tomentose. West 

 Australia. — Offered in S- California. l jj_ g 



STEREOSPERMUM (Greek; hard seed). Bigno- 

 niacece. About 10 species of tropical trees native to 

 Asia and Africa, of which 2 are cult, n S. Fla. and 

 S. Calif. They have handsome foliage, which is once 

 or twice pinnate, and large bignonia-like flowers of 

 pale yellow or pale rose, borne in large, lax, terminal 

 panicles; calyx ovoid, open or closed in the bud; corolla- 

 lobes 5, nearly equal, round, crisped, toothed or lacin- 

 iate: capsule long, terete, loculicidally 2-valved; seeds 

 in 1 or 2 series. 



Xtereospermum Sinicum seems to revel in the light 

 sandy soil of the Florida gardens. Its abundant, large, 

 fern-like, crimped bipinnate foliage and its luxuriant 

 symmetrical growth combine to make it an object of 

 great beauty. It grows to a height of 10 to 12 ft. in one 

 season, and if not cut down by a severe freeze it attains 

 a height of 20 ft. in two years, provided the soil is 

 made rich by a good fertilizer. Planted out in a con- 

 servatory in the North it soon reaches stately dimen- 

 sions. It is easily raised from cuttings placed in sand. 

 S. sttaveolens lacks the elegance of its congener, and it 

 does not sprout as readily after it has been frozen down. 



a. Foliage twice-pinnate: fls. pale yellow. 



Sinicum, Hance. Tree, said to attain GO ft.: lvs. oppo- 

 site, bipinnate; pinna? about 4 pairs, each pinna with 

 about 7 lfts.; lfts. ovate-lanceolate, 2x% in.: corolla 

 pale sulfur, 3 in. long; lobes 1 in. long, somewhat 

 crisped. Hong Kong. 



aa. Foliage once-pinnate: fls. pale or dark purple. 



suaveolens, DC. Tree, 30-60 ft. high: lvs. 12-18 in. 

 long: lfts. 7-9, broadly elliptic, acuminate or acute, 5% 

 x3 in.: panicle many-fld., viscous, hairy: fls*. \% in. 

 long; lobes crisped-crenate. India. 



H. Nehrling and W. JV1. 



