DR. B. SEEMANN ON THE CRESCENTIACE^. 17 



Tribus II. — Crescentie.!;. Seem, in Proc. Linn. Soc. ii. p. 269 (1853) ; Bot. Herald, 

 p. 182 (1854^). — Calyx cleciduus, irregularis (spathaceus vel bipartitus). 



4. Parmentiera, DeCand. 



Calyx deciduus, spathaceus, longitudinaliter fissus. Corolla subcampanulata, tubo lato brevi, fauce 

 hiante, limbo distincto 5-lobo, lobis subasqualibus patentibus. Stamina 4, didynama, cum rudiraento 

 quinti. Antherm 2-loculai-es, loculis divergentibus. Discus glandidosus ovarii basin cingens. Stylus 

 elongatus ; stigma bilamellatum, lamellis integerrimis. Ovarium 1-loculare, multiovulatum. Frvctns 

 carnosus, indehiscens, teres, tuberculatus vel leevis, spurie 2-4-locularis, epulposus. Semina plurima, 

 parva, cordata vel subrotunda. Albumen nidlum. 



Arbores America iropicce, ramis aculeatis vel inermibus, foliis oppositis, simplicibus vel trifoliolatis, 

 pedunculis unifloris subcongestis ex trunco aut basi ramorum et ramulorum ortis, coroUis 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. 2/2. 



Crescentia spec. auct. 



DeCandolle (Prodi", ix. p. 244!) has enumerated only one species of Parmentiera (P. 

 edulis, DeCand.) ; and I have added two more (P. cereifera, Seem, and P. acideata, 

 Seem.). Of the latter two, only one (P. cereifera, Seem.) holds good, P. acideata. Seem, 

 having proved identical with P. 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 imarmed, has always compound leaves and a smooth fruit. 

 As synonyms of P. edtdis, DeCand., must also be regarded Crescentia acideata, H. B. K., 

 C. edulis, Desv., and C. musoicarpa, Zaldivar. 



1. Parmentiera cereifera ; ramis inermibus, foliis omnibus trifoliolatis, foUolis ovato- 

 ellipticis vel obovato-oblongis utrinque acuminatis serratis vel integerrimis, petiolo 

 alato, corollse (albidte) lobis emarginatis, fructu tereti bisulcato Isevi 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 1846) cultivated at Kew. 



Tills 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, Avith 

 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- 



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