288 XXXVIII. TILIACE^. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 *Sterculia. Heritiera. Tarrietia. Cola. 



The above-named tribes, united into one family by Ventenat, and then divided into two, have again 

 been united by Bentham and Hooker fil. They are closely allied on the one hand to Malvacece, on the 

 other to Tiliacccc ; they are distinguished from the first by their two-celled anthers and their generally 

 smooth pollen, and from the second by their extrorse anthers, alternate with the epals when definite, 

 or monadelphous when indefinite. Tretnandreee, which we have annexed to Polygalea (see p. 249), 

 and which approach the tribe, of Lasiopetalea: in the aestivation of the calyx, the apical dehiscence of the 

 extrorse anthers, the two ovuled ovary cells, the anatropous ovules, the fleshy albumen, the straight axile 

 embryo, are separated by the free filaments, the simple stigma, the pendulous ovule with superior 

 micropyle, the exstipulate leave?, &c. 



Sterculiacecc belong to tropical and subtropical regions. The tribe of Lasiopetalea inhabits Australia 

 and Madagascar. Some Buttneriete are common to the tropics of both continents (JButtneria, Guazuma), 

 others are peculiar to America (Theobroma), or Asia (Abrotna), or Australia and Madagascar (Rulingia). 

 Commersonia is Australian and tropical American ; Hermanmea principally South African ; Dombeyete 

 inhabit the hot regions of Asia and Africa. Eriolcena is exclusively an Asiatic genus, as are most 

 Helicterea; although Helicteres itself belongs to both continents, Unyeria to Norfolk Island, and Myrodia 

 to America. The tribe of Sterculieee ia dispersed over the tropical zone ; Stercidia is almost wholly 

 Asiatic, there being but few African or American species. The known species of Cola are all from 

 Africa. Henticra is tropical Asiatic and Australian. 



Sterculiacece, like Malvaccff, contain an abundant mucilage, combined, in the old bark of the woody 

 pecies, with a bitter astringent extractable matter, and are stimulants and emetics. The seeds are oily. 

 The fleshy envelope of the seed of Sterculia is eatable ; their seeds, oily and slightly acrid, are used for 

 seasoning food ; their bark is strongly astringent, and some species produce a gum analogous to tragacanth. 



The most important species of Buttnerieee is the Theobroma Cacao, an American tree, cultivated in 

 Asia and Africa. The seeds, which are enveloped in pulp, contain a fixed and solid oil (cocoa butter), a 

 red colouring matter, a substance analogous to tannin, a gum, and a crystallizable azotized principle, called 

 t/ieobroHiine. The dried and split cotyledons of ite seeds are called cocoa-nibs ; and when ground and 

 made into a paste, chocolate, which is rendered more digestible by being flavoured with vanilla or 

 cinnamon. The mucilaginous astringent fruit of Guaztnna is used in America for skin diseases. Its 

 sugary and eatable pulp is fermented, and furnishes a kind of beer. Many species of Buttneria, 

 Waltheria and I*tcro8j)enmmi are used in America and Asia as emollients. The bitter and foetid root of 

 IMictft-es Sanarotha is a reputed stomachic in Brazil, and its bark is frequently used in syphilitic affec- 

 tions. 



XXXVIII. TILIACE^E. 



^E, Jussieu. EL^EOCAKPE^;, Jussieu. EL^EOCARPACE^E, Lindl.) 



CALYX valvate, deciduous. PETALS 4-5, hypogynous, (estivation contorted, imbri- 

 cate or valvate. STAMENS double or multiple the number of the petals, all fertile, or the 

 outer sterile, free, or in bundles ; anthers 2-celled. FRUIT dry or fleshy. EMBRYO 

 generally albuminous. STEM woody, or very rarely herbaceous, LEAVES stipulate, 

 usually alternate. 



TREES or SHRUBS, rarely HERBS. LEAVES alternate, rarely opposite or sub-oppo- 

 site (Plagiopteron) simple, penninerved or palminerved, entire or palmilobed, crenu- 

 late or dentate, very often coriaceous, reticulate beneath ; stipules 2, free, deciduous 

 or rarely persistent. FLOWERS $ , very rarely imperfect, regular, axillary or terminal, 



