62 FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 



name, given it of MACPALXOCHIQUAUHITL, by the ancient Mexicans ; 

 the Spanish botanists, replaced this name by three words derived 

 from the Greek, meaning the same thing. Dr. Hernandez, from 

 whom we have copied the description, tells "us that it rises from 

 twelve to twenty-five feet in height, giving off branches which, as well 

 as the leaf and flower-stalks that in turn rise from them, are of a dull 

 reddish color.' It has a thick, gross, woody root, running horizon- 

 tally and branching, the fibres sent off from it being of the most 

 extreme delicacy and fineness ; the whole covered by a cuticle of 

 a dull obscure color, that easily peels from off its bark. This last is 

 yellowish on the outside, and white within, of a woody nature, but 

 on exposure to the air a deep yellow color is acquired by the 

 whole surface. The branches are given off regularly and alternately, 

 they are large long and spreading, the older ones tortuous, when 

 young of a roundish shape ; streaked upon the surface with divers 

 lines which break off and change in every direction, covered with 

 a down of an ashy grey color, which is most thick and sensible at 

 the extremities, either by its great density or the ocreish color it 

 acquires at these parts. The leaf-stalks are round and thick, rather 

 tapering, from four to eight inches in length, or about as long as the 

 leaves, covered like them with down, and alternate, bearing a from 

 five to seven lobed leaf of a bright glossy green on the upper 

 surface, but light reddish from the down on the under, which 

 color is still more prominent in the veins. The appendages 

 at the base of the leaf-stalks are glossy, a little fleshy, reddish, bent 

 over, covered with down, half an inch in length and easily detached. 

 The flowers are supported on short, compressed, downy footstalks, 

 are in clusters at the ends of the branches, simple, and from six to 

 eight together ; on the declivities of the barren hills of Toluca, its 

 native home, it flowers at the commencement of winter, and 

 continues in bloom from November to February. The leaves are 

 retained the whole year. The wood is loose and fragile and merits 

 no attention. In floral language we have given it as the Symbol ot 

 WAHNING. 



