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A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



/. RHIZOPHORACE^ OR MANGROVE FAMILY.— 

 These are tropical shrubs or small trees with evergreen, cori- 

 aceous leaves, small cymose and axillary flowers, and seeds which 

 germinate while the fruit is still attached to the plant. The best 



Fig. 342. Brazil-nut (also known as Para nut. cream nut, and nigger-toe), the seeds 

 of BerthoUetia excelsa, a Brazilian tree belonging to the Fam. Myrtaceae. In the illustration 

 is shown a portion of the fruiting branch with some of the long, leathery leaves. The fruits 

 terminating the branches are woody, vary from 10 to 15 cm. in diameter, and are in the 

 nature of a pyxis, — i.e., opening by means of a lid. It encloses about 20 brownish-gray, 

 3-sided seeds, which are largely exported from Para. — Reproduced by permission of The 

 Philadelphia Commercial Museum. 



known genus of this family is Rhizophora (Mangrove tree), of 

 which there are three species, the American Mangrove being R. 

 Mangle. This tree produces aerial roots on the stems and branches, 

 and leaves w^hich are characterized by a number of layers of 



