MALVAGEJE. 123 



of which are used in the way we have already indicated. The pro- 

 duction of these filaments only takes place in the Mahacece at the 

 surface of the seed. It can extend even to the walls of the endocarp, 

 so that the seeds may be plunged into a down more or less analogous 

 to cotton, but which does not adhere to their external coat, and whose 

 development has been centripetal. 1 Such appears to be the origin 

 of the silky filaments found in a great many Bombacece, particularly 

 in Bombax, Eriodendron, Chorisia, and Ochroma, whose hairs are 

 spun and woven with difficulty, but they may serve like eider down 

 in making cushions, mattresses, &c, and have been employed in hat 

 making, surgery, &c. 2 



When the Malvacece become trees (and they acquire an immense 

 development in certain Bombacece, which are giants of the vegetable 

 kingdom, like the Baobabs, 3 Bombax, and Eriodendron), 4 their wood 

 presents two different characters, according to the genus and series to 

 which they belong. Sometimes it is hard, enduring, and coloured, 

 and is then used in building, as that of Durio and Heritiera, or in 

 the manufacture of very hard objects, as that of some Stercidias in 

 Africa, and that of Pterospermum indicum in Amboyna. 5 But generally 

 the numerous cavities by which it is hollowed, and the re-absorption 

 of the greater part of its parenchyma, render it soft, light, and con- 

 sequently only useful for certain purposes. 6 The negroes of Senegal, 

 among other objects, 7 make perogues, a kind of canoe, in one single 



ferent authors, Bentham & J. Hookeb {Gen., Maet. {Eriotheca pubescens Maet.), the B. 



209, n. 39) admitting two (besides Sturtia and jasminiodora {Erione jasminiodora Schott), 



Thurberia) ; Pablatoee {Speed. Coton Firenz. audi Eriodendron anfractuosum, which, according 



(1866), c. ic.) only recognises seven. Todaro to many authors, comprises two species : E. occi- 



(Oss. s. Tal. Spec, di Coton.; 17, ex Walp., dentale {Bombax occidentale Speeng.), and 



Ann., vii. 409) distinguishes thirty-four, besides E. orientale Steud. (see Kosenth., op. cit„ VlS), 



nine uncertain species known only by name. &c. 



Masters (in Oliv. Fl. Troy. Afr., i. 210) only 3 Their diameter is often more than thirty feet, 



preserves the species " concerning which there is their trunk attaining twice that height. 



little or no difference of opinion among botanists," 4 E. Samauba is, according to G. Waxlis, 



that is to say, in this region Q. arboreum, herb- the largest tree in the world. 



aceum, anomalum, and barbadense. 5 In Madagascar the wood of several Dombeyas 



1 We may with difficulty suppose an origin is also employed. 



analogous to that of the pulp which surrounds 6 The surface of the trunk in several species 



the seeds of the Baobabs and Cacao. of Bombax and Eriodendron is covered with 



2 There has been cited Chorisia crispiflora conical hard bristles. The base is often swollen 

 K., insignis K„ speciosa A. S. H. {Arvore into a cone like that of several Australian Ster- 

 de poina of the Brazilians), Bombax Ceiba culias, called for this reason Bottle-trees. 



L., globosum Aubl., villosum Mill., whose hair 7 Places of sepulchre for corpses, &c. The 



is red, discolor H. B. K., cumanense H. B. K„ Baobabs are sacred or fetish trees, and are used 



ellipticum H. B. K., septenatum Jacq., Munguba to suspend amulets and charms. 

 Maet., and relusum Mart., the B. pubescens 



