MALVACEÆ. 123 
of which are used in the way we have already indicated. The pro- 
duction of these filaments only takes place in the Malvacee 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.' Such appears to be the origin 
of the silky filaments found in a great many Bombacee, particularly 
in Bombax, Briodendron, 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. 
When the J/alvacee become trees (and they acquire an immense 
development in certain Bombacee, which are giants of the vegetable 
kingdom, like the Baobabs,* Bombax, and Hriodendron),* 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 Sferculias in 
Africa, and that of Pterospermum indicum in Amboyna.’ 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.’ The negroes of Senegal, 
among other objects, make perogues, a kind of canoe, in one single 

ferent authors, BENTHAM & J. Hooker (Gen., Marr. (Æriotheca pubescens MART.), the B. 
209, n. 39) admitting two (besides Séurtia and 
Thurberia) ; PARLATORE (Spec, d. Coton Firenz. 
(1866), c. ic.) only recognises seven. TOoDARO 
(Oss. s. Tal, Spee. di Coton.; 17, ex WALP., 
Ann., vii. 409) distinguishes thirty-four, besides 
nine uncertain species known only by name, 
Masters (in Oliv. Fl. Trop. Afr., i. 210) only 
preserves the species “concerning which there is 
little or no difference of opinion among botanists,” 
that is to say, in this region G. arboreum, herb- 
aceum, anomalum, and barbadense. 
1 We may with difficulty suppose an origin 
analogous to that of the pulp which surrounds 
the seeds of the Baobabs and Cacao, 
2 There has been cited Chorisia crispiflora 
K., insignis K., speciosa A, S. H. (Arvore 
de poina of the Brazilians), Bombax Ceiba 
L., globosum AUBL., villosum MILL., whose hair 
is red, discolor H. B, K., cwmanense H. B. K., 
ellipticum H. B. K., septenalum Jacq., Munguba 
Marr., and retusum Maprt., the B. pubescens 
jasminiodora (Erione jasminiodora Scuort), 
and Lriodendron anfractuosum, which, according 
to many authors, comprises two species: Æ, occi- 
dentale (Bombax occidentale SPRENG.), and 
Æ. orientale STEUD. (see RosENTH., op. cit., 718), 
&e. 
% Their diameter is often more than thirty feet, 
their trunk attaining twice that height. 
4 FE. Samauba is, according to G. Watuis, 
the largest tree in the world, 
5 In Madagascar the wood of several Dombeyas 
is also employed. 
5 The surface of the trunk in several species 
of Bombax and Æriodendron is covered with 
conical hard bristles. The base is often swollen 
into a cone like that of several Australian Ster- 
culias, called for this reason Bottle-trees. 
7 Places of sepulchre for corpses, &e. The 
Baobabs are sacred or fetish trees, and are used 
to suspend amulets and charms, 
