6oo The Tallow Trees 



scaly spikes 2 to 5 cm. long; calyx minute; stamens 2 or 3, their thread-like fila- 

 ments distinct; anthers erect, ovoid, 2-celled, opening lengthwise; the pistillate 1 

 flowers are at the bases of the spikes, solitary, or in clusters of 2 or 3, on slender 

 peduncles 12 to 15 mm. long, and consist of a rudimentary 3-Iobed perianth and a 

 3-celled angular ovary, with 3 recurved styles which are stigmatic on their inner 

 faces; ovules sohtary in each cell. The 3-lobed capsule is borne on a slender 

 stalk 2.5 to 3.5 cm. long; it is depressed-globose, about i cm. in diameter, dark 

 brown to black, the lobes rounded; it sphts into 3 parts with a hard, shining 

 inner surface leaving a white central axis; the seeds are globose to ovoid, 3 to 5 

 mm. thick, bright brown, with a flat, circular appendage. 



The wood is hard, close-grained, and dark brown; its specific gravity is about 

 1.09. It takes a fine poKsh and is sometimes made into canes. 



This genus comprises about 10 species, all tropical American trees or shrubs 

 of no especial economic value. The name is Greek, in reference to the very 

 simple flowers, Gymnanthes elliptica Swartz, of Jamaica being the type. 



III. THE TALLOW TREES 



SAPIUM PATRICK BROWNE 



APIUM consists of about 25 species of milky-juiced trees or shrubs 

 of the tropical regions of both hemispheres. The West Indian Sapium 

 Aucuparium Jacquin, is the type species. 



They have alternate or opposite, mostly leathery leaves, their 

 stipules falhng off early. The flowers are dioecious or rarely monoecious, with 

 but one series of the perianth present, in axillary, lateral or apparently terminal 

 spikes or racemes. Flowers without a disk, in long, slender spikes, the staminate 

 perianth 2- or rarely 3-parted, the lobes nearly equal; stamens 2 or 3, their fila- 

 ments distinct; anthers opening lengthwise. The pistillate flowers are below the 

 staminate, the perianth of 2 or 3 more or less united parts; ovary 2- or 3-celled; 

 styles 2 or 3, shghtly united at the base; ovules solitary in each cell. The 

 fruit is a 2- or 3-lobed capsule, the 2 or 3 cells each containing a single seed; the 

 seeds have a thick hard testa, coated with a wax-Hke substance. 



The name is probably derived from the Celtic "sap," meaning fat, in refer- 

 ence to the waxy coating of the seed. 



Two arborescent species have been introduced into our area: 



Leaves rhombic; capsules 3-lobed; seed 8 to 9 mm. long; poplar-like tree. i. 5. sebiferum. 

 Leaves linear-oblong or narrowly oblong; capsules 2-lobed; seed 6 to 7 mm. 



long; willow-like tree. 2. S. glandulosum. 



