ORDER BROMACE,E, OR CACAO TRIBE. 389 



the surface of the true Cotton fibres, and which are very important 

 in binding them together. The difference between the Bombacese 

 and the Malvaceae, in any other respect than their size, is not great. 

 The calyx of the former is not exactly valvate ; the tube formed 

 by the adhesion of the stamens is cleft at its upper part into five 

 divisions ; and the anthers, which, like those of the Malvaceae, 

 are one-celled, burst longitudinally instead of transversely. They 

 resemble Malvaceae also in the mucilaginous character of their 

 juices, and in the entire absence of any deleterious properties. 

 They are all natives of tropical climates. 



554. Another order nearly allied to the Malvaceae, is that of 

 BROMACEJE (the Byttneriaceae of De Candolle) or Cacao tribe. 

 They are usually shrubs or trees, which are, like those of the 

 last order, confined to tropical regions and countries bordering on 

 them. They have no very obvious differences from the Mal- 

 vaceae, except that the petals are often absent, and that the 

 anthers are two-celled, bursting longitudinally. The stamens 

 are variously united, but usually form a single tube ; not unfre- 

 quently many of them are abortive ; and, as in the Cacao itself, 

 they assume the form of narrow petals intermediate between the 

 true stamens. The carpels are less numerous than those of the 

 Malvaceae, varying from three to five ; and the number of ovules 

 in each cell is usually much greater. Like the Malvaceae, these 

 plants are remarkable for the quantity of mucilage they con- 

 tain ; and it is from one species that the Gum Tragacanth, so 

 much used in the arts (. 380), is obtained. In a few species, 

 the juices possess a slight acridity ; and in others some astrin- 

 gency. 



555. The order is chiefly interesting on account of the im- 

 portance of the genus Theolroma Cacao, in yielding the material 

 of a wholesome and nutritious beverage, the occasional use of 

 which in this country gives but a slight idea of the large quan- 

 tity consumed in many others. It is a little curious that, whilst 

 the generic name, signifying "food for the gods" was given to 

 it by Linnaeus, on account of his high estimation of its qualities, 

 a traveller of the sixteenth century declared that chocolate was a 

 drink " fitter for a pig than for a man." The Cacao tree 



