28 



CASE No. 74. Kapok Tree (Eriodendron anfractuosum, 



13. DC.), of the tropics o£ the old and new worlds. The Silk 

 Cotton surrounding the seeds is more valued than that 

 obtained from Bombax, and is exported in large quantities 

 from Java to Europe and Australia for stuffing mattresses 

 and for the manufacture of life-saving apparatus. The 

 seeds are also exported to Europe as oil-seeds. 



The Cork or Wool tree of the West Indies {Ochroma 

 Lagopus, Sw.), yields a Silk Cotton of no commercial 

 value. 



Note nest of the "Doctor Humming-bird" formed of 

 this substance. 



No. 75. DURIAN Fruits (Durio Zibethinus, Murr.). 

 A tree cultivated in Malacca and the Malay Islands. By 

 those who have overcome its civet odour and turpentine 

 flavour, it is considered one of the most delicious of 

 fruits. 



Note fruits of Neesia aliissima^ Blume, from Penang, 

 and the flower of the HAND PLANT {Cheirostemon 

 platanoides, Humb. and Bonp.). Venerated by the ancient 

 Mexicans on account of the singular resemblance to a 

 clawed hand presented by the curved stamens of the 

 flower. 



Sterculia Order {StercuUaceae). These resemble in 

 many points of structure and in their qualities the Mallow 

 tribe. 



Several species of Sterculia^ natives of the East and 

 West Indies, Ceylon, Australia, Tropical Africa, &c., yield 

 fibrous barks, from which ropes are made. A light 

 coloured semi-transparent gum, like Tragacanth, is also 

 furnished by many of them. That from Sterculia livens^ 

 Roxb., is used medicinally in India as a substitute for 

 Tragacanth and also for making sweetmeats, and is known 

 as KUTEBRA Gum (See Cochlos]iermum. Gossypmm, p. 17). 

 CASE On an upper shelf of the first compartment of this case 



14. observe fruits of BOA-TAM-PAIJANQ of the Siamese 

 {Sterculia scaphigera, Wall.), remarkable for the 

 mucilaginous character of their pericarps when immersed 

 in water. They contain nearly 60 per cent, of Bassorin, 

 and are used by the people of Siam and China for making 

 a mucilaginous drink as well as for making jellies which 

 are eaten as a delicacy. 



