378 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES SILK 



of sufficient width between them to allow room for a comfort- 

 able hilt. The wood is very soft, and large pieces are cut out for 

 paddles and other uses. Another use of these trees is that they 

 are hollowed out and formed into canoes. Immense casks are 

 also made of them. One is recorded to have been 27 feet in 

 length, and so thick that a man standing inside could work with 

 an axe in hollowing it out. They are employed for conveying 

 oil and other products from the upper region of the Amazon, 

 being floated down to Para. 



Silk-cotton Tree, Brazilian {Pachira macrantha), a Brazilian 

 tree, attaining a height of 100 feet, and having flowers 15 inches 

 in length. The outside of the petals is green, and white within, 

 with numerous lons^ scarlet stamens. 



Silk-cotton Tree, Malabar {Bomhax maktbaricum), a tree, 

 native of Malabar and other parts of India, attaining a height of 

 70 or 80 feet, and its stem is covered with prickly tubercles 

 similar to the Eriodenclron cmfraduosuiii of the AVest Indies. 

 The flowers are red, produced in clusters, and its fruit contains 

 silky hairs which are used for stuffing cushions ; the wood is 

 light and porous ; the bark possesses emetic properties, and 

 yields a pure gum. 



Silk-cotton Tree, New Grenada (FacMra cdha, better known 

 in botanical collections in the country by the name of Carolinect 

 alba), a moderate -sized tree common in Xew Grenada, where 

 it is one of the most useful trees, the inner bark furnishing a 

 strong and durable cordage much valued throughout the country. 

 There are other species of Fachira in tropical America, the bark 

 of which is in general use as cordas^e. 



Silk-cotton Tree, West Indian {Eriodenclron anfractiiosum), 

 a tree attaining a height of 100 feet or more, having an impos- 

 ing appearance, Vv^hether overtopping its humble companions of 

 the forest or rising in solitary grandeur on the open plain. Even 

 the untutored negroes are so struck with the majesty of its 

 appearance that they call it the God Tree. Not even from the 

 fear of punishment will they be induced to cut it down. Its 

 bark is green and covered with rough tuberculated prickles. It 



