70 



DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



Cotton, treated with antiseptics, forms a very important article of modern 

 surgery. From the roots a fluid extract is made, much used in the Southern 

 United States by irregular practitioners. 



Statistics. — The amount of cotton consumed in the M'orld is not easily 

 ascertained. There are about 3,000,000,000 pounds exported annually from 

 Southern Asia, and 2,000,000,000 pounds from the United States, and about 

 the same amount is consumed in those countries ; so that an estimate of 

 12,000,000,000 pounds for the whole world would not be too high. This quan- 

 tity, at ten cents per pound, amounts to the enormous sum of $1,200,000,000 

 for the value of the raw material. 



Order X. STERCULIACE^. 



Trees or shrubs, agreeing with Malvaceae, except that the anthers 

 are extrorse and 2-celled ; petals sometimes wanting ; capsules 

 united into a 2-5-celled ovary. 



THEOBROMA, L. (Cocoa.) Calyx spreading, sepals 5. Petals 5. 

 cordate at the base, extending into a strap. Stamens united at the 



base, extending upwards 

 into 10 divisions, each 

 alternate one terminated 

 by 2 anthers each, the 

 other divisions sterile. 

 Pistil filiform, divided 

 into a 5-parted stigma. 

 Fruit a 5-angled, elon- 

 gated, warty capsule, in 

 the form of a cucumber, 

 5-7 inches long, and 3 

 inches in diameter, con- 

 taining from 25-40 seeds. 

 Seeds about three eighths 

 of an inch long and two 

 eighths wide, imbedded 

 in pulp. 



1. T. cocoa, Wallich. 

 Stem upright, much- 

 liranched ; branches com- 

 mence about 4 or 5 feet 

 from the ground, and form 

 a symmetrical head. Bark 

 light-brown, smooth ; the 

 whole from 10 to 15 feet in 

 height, presenting a beauti- 

 ful appearance. Leaves oblong, lanceolate, 4 inches in length and 2 in width, 

 entire, dark-green, and evergreen. Flowers, leaves, and fruit after the third 

 year of the plant's life are always present. Fruit harvested twice a year, 

 June and December. 



Theobroma roroA (Cocoa). 



