298 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



locular. Above they remain more or less separated from each other, 

 so that at this height the axis of the ovary is occupied by a single ca- 

 vity. Upon the faces of the placentas, and in a very variable extent of 

 their lower part, 1 are seen an indefinite number of anatropous ovules, 

 disposed in two or several series. The fruit is a capsule, with three 

 or five incomplete cells having a very peculiar mode of dehiscence. 

 The endocarp, membranous or like parchment, divides into valves, 

 bearing upon the middle of their internal face seminiferous parti- 

 tions, at the same time detaching itself from the more exterior 

 layers of the pericarp, the valves of which alternate with its own. 

 The reniform or spiral seeds contain under their coats, 2 the exterior 

 covered with woody hairs of variable length, a fleshy albumen, in 

 the axis of which is found a greenish incurved embryo, with cylin- 

 dro-conical radicle, and oval foliaceous cotyledons. 



Cochlospermum consists of trees, shrubs, or perennial herbs, with 

 tuberous rhizome, 3 filled with a yellow or reddish juice. The leaves 

 are alternate, palmatifid, or digitate. Their flowers are disposed at 

 the summit of the branches, and in the axils of the upper leaves in 

 more or less compound racemes. A dozen species 4 are distinguished 

 in this genus, natives of all the tropical regions of the world. 



In certain species of Cochlospermum the falciform partitions of the 

 ovary are much elevated, so that below the base of the style there 

 is but a very small cavity corresponding with the axis of the ovary. 

 In one or two species of the Western regions of the two Americas, 

 distinguished under the name of Amoreuxia* but which, accord- 

 ing to us, only constitute a series in the genus Cocfdosjjermum, 



1 The line according to which the insertion of 4 L., Syst., 517 (Bombax). — Burh., Ind., 

 the ovules ceases ahove, is often more or less 145 (Bombax). — Cat., Dess., v. 297, t. 157 

 oblique from above downwards, and from within (Bombax). — Sonner., Toy., ii. 235, t. 133 

 outwards. (Bombax). — A. S. H., PI. Us. Bras.,t. 57; Fl. 



2 We have seen (Adansonia, x. 260) that Bras. Mer., i. 296. — Cashless., in Mem. Mus., 

 under the superficial coat, covered with hairs, the xvi. 402. — Wight, in Hook. Bot. Misc. Suppl., 

 hard and dusky testa bears at one of its ex- t. 18. — Wight & Arn., Prodr., i. 87. — Koxb., 

 tremities (that which corresponds to the apex of Fl. Ind., ii. 169. — K., Syn. PI. JEquin., iii. 214. 

 the cotyledons) a circular opening, made as with — H. B. K„ Nov. Gen. et Spec., vii. 233. — 

 a punch, and which would be wide o\ en, if the Guillem. & Perr., Fl. Sen. Tent., i. t. 21. — 

 interior membrane, elsewhere soft and pale, did Olit., Fl. Trop. Afr., i. 112. — P. Muell., 

 not thicken at this point into a sort of brown Fragni., i. 71. — Benth., Fl. Austral., i. 105. — 

 cork, which is applied like a plug upon the Walp., Ann., i. 115; ii. 176 ; vii. 222. 

 internal orifice. We have observed the same * Sess. & Moe., Fl. Mexic. ined. (ex DC, 

 peculiarity in Amoreuxia. Prodr., ii. 638). — Ekdl., Gen., n. 6403 (Rosacea). 



3 Which must certainly be considered as a — Pi., in Hook. Pond. Journ., vi. 140, 306, t. 1. 

 woody stem, short, thick-set, and subterraneous, — A.Gray, Fl. Wright., ii. t. 12. — H. Bs\, in 

 so that the aerial herbaceous axes would only be Adansonia, x. 259. — Walp., Ann., iv. 340. 

 annual branches. 



