DR. B. SEEMANN ON THE CRESCEXTIACE.E. 17 
Tribus II. — Crescentlele. Seem, in Proc. Linn. Soc. ii. p. 2G9 (1853) ; Bot. Herald 
p. 182 (1851). — Calyx deciduus, irregularis (spathaceus vel bipartitus). 
4. Parmentiera, DeCand. 
Calyx deciduus, spathaceus, longitudinaliter fissus. Corolla subcampanulata, tubo lato brcvi, fauce 
hiante, limbo distincto 5-lobo, lobis subasqualibus patentibus. Stamina 4, didynama, cum rudimento 
quinti. Anthera 2-loculares, loculis divergentibus. Discus gtandulosus ovarii basin cingcns. Stylus 
elongatus ; stigma bilamellatum, lamellis integcrrimis. Ovarium 1-loculare, multiovulatum. Fructus 
carnosus, indehiscens, teres, tuberculatus vel laevis, spurie 2-4-loeularis, epulposus. Semina plurima, 
parva, cordata vel subrotunda. Albumen nullum. 
Arbores America tropica, ramis aculeatis vel inermibus, foliis oppositis, simplicibus vel trifoliolatis, 
pedunculis unifloris subcongestis ex trunco aut basi ramorum et ramulorum ortis, corollis albidis vel 
virescentibus, fructibus flavis. 
Parmentiera, DeCand. Revis. Bignon. p. 19; Prodr. ix. p. 244. Endl. Gen. Plant. Suppl. i. p. 1409, 
n. 4171- 1. Seem, in Hook. Journ. and Kew Misc. vi. p. 272. 
Crescentice spec. auct. 
DeCandolle (Prodr. ix. p. 241) has enumerated only one species of Tarmenlierc (P. 
edulis, DeCand.) ; and I have added two more (P. cereifera, Seem, and P. aculeata, 
Seem.). Of the latter two, only one (P. cereifera, Seem.) holds good, P. aculeata, Seem, 
having proved identical with i*. edulis; so that the genus consists at present of two 
species, both very distinct from each other. P. edulis, DeCand. has thorns, occasionally 
simple leaves, and a tuberculate fruit ; whilst P. cereifera, Seem., the famous Candle- tree 
of the Isthmus of Panama, is unarmed, has always compound leaves and a smooth fruit. 
As synonyms of P. edulis, DeCand., must also be regarded Crescentia aculeata, II. B. K., 
C edulis, Desv., and C. musacarpa , Zaldivar. 
1. Parmentiera cereifera ; ramis inermibus, foliis omnibus trifoliolatis, foliolis ovato- 
ellipticis vel obovato-oblongis utrinque acuminatis serratis vel integerrimis, petiolo 
alato, corollge (albidae) lobis emarginatis, fructu tereti bisuleato lsevi glaberrimo. 
(v. sp. v. et cult.) 
Parmentiera cereifera, Seem. iii. p. 302; Bot. Herald, p. 182, t. 32; Hook. Journ. and Kew Misc. vi. 
p. 273. 
Nomen vernaculum Panamense : " Palo de velas" (i.e. Arbor cereifera), teste Seemann. 
Geogr. Distr. Central parts of the province of Panama, near the villages of Cruces, Gorgona, and San 
Juan (Seemannl). Formerly (in 1S46) cultivated at Kew. 
Tliis singular production was first described by me in Hooker's * Journal of Botany and 
Kew Miscellany,' vol. iii. p. 302, where I said : " This tree is confined to the valley of the 
Chagres, Isthmus of Panama, where it forms entire forests. In entering them, a person 
might almost fancy himself transported into a chandler's shop. From all the stems and 
lower branches hang long cylindrical fruits of a yellow colour and a wax-like appearance, 
so much resembling a candle as to have given rise to the popular appellation of Palo de 
Velas, or Candle-tree. The fruit is generally from two to three, but not unfrequently 
four feet long, and an inch in diameter. The tree itself is about 24 feet high, with 
opposite, trifoliated leaves, and large white blossoms, which appear throughout the year, 
but in greatest abundance during the rainy season. The fruit serves for food to nume- 
VOL. XXIII. 
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