MALVACEAE 295 



is like that of HIBISCUS or GOSSYPIUM, that is, it is 

 a capsule, but opens irregularly. It is very light and 1 

 floats easily in the water. The flower is like that 

 of GOSSYPIUM, with a single undivided style, but the 

 three bracteoles (epi-calyx) are small and fall off 

 before the flower opens, leaving only three scars. 



BOMBAX MALABARICUM, D.C., the well-known silk- 

 cotton tree, is like ERIODENDRON, deciduous, its leaves 

 falling off early in the year and the new ones not 

 appearing till after the gorgeous deep pink or scarlet 

 flowers. The calyx is a leathery cup. The stamens 

 like those of ERIODENDRON, are united into five bun- 

 dles set opposite to the petals, but the filaments have 

 each only one anther (not three). The cotton produced 

 round the seeds, is useless for spinning because the 

 fibres being perfectly cylindrical and smooth will not 

 hold together when twisted. 



ADANSONIA DIGITATA, L. (the Baobab), a native of 

 Africa is often grown in gardens. It has a very thick 

 stem, and widely spreading branches. 



TRIBES OF THE MALVACEAE 



The family of the MALVACEAE can be divided into 

 four groups (tribes). 



I. Those in which, as in SIDA, ALTH^A and ABUTI- 

 LON, the carpels when ripe separate from the axis, 

 and are of the same number as the styles. 



II. Those in which the fruit is likewise a schizo- 

 carp, but there are twice as many (ten) styles as car- 

 pels (five), e.g. PAVONIA. 



III. Those which like HIBISCUS and GOSSYPIUM 

 have loculicidal capsules. 



