PHANEROGAMIA 



529 



The andrcecium of this family, unlike that of the Tiliaceae, is always mon- 

 adelphous. It resembles in this respect the andrcecium of the Malvaceae, from 

 which, although sometimes only distinguishable by the dithecious anthers, it 

 differs in having, as a rule, a much smaller number of stamens. The episepalous 

 stamens are never fertile, but are either staminodial or suppressed. 



The Sterculiaceae are almost exclusively confined to the Tropics, where they 

 are constantly met with either as herbaceous plants, shrubs, lianes, or trees, 

 often bearing flowers of a peculiar and unusual form. The only plant in this group 

 of value to man is the Cacao-tree, Theobroma Cacao (Figs. 495, 496), a small tree, 



Fig. 495. — Theobroma Cacao. 1, Branch with flowers and 

 fruit ; 2, a flower cut through longitudinally ; 3, seed. — 

 Officinal. (After Wossidlo.) 



Fig. 496. — Fruit of Theobroma 

 Cacao, with a portion of the 

 pericarp removed (£ nat. size). 

 — Officinal. (After Berg and 

 Schmidt.) 



orio-inally native of Mexico, but now cultivated in all tropical countries. The 

 small flowers are red in colour, and spring from the cortex of the stem and older 

 branches. The fruit, which is about the size of a small cucumber, and of red or 

 orange colour, has a hard longitudinally -ribbed wall, and contains numerous 

 disc-shaped seeds embedded within its juicy flesh. After fermentation, when 

 roasted and ground, chocolate and cacao are obtained from the seeds. 



Officinal. — The seeds of Theobroma Cacao, yielding Cocoa-butter, Oleum 

 Cacao. Kola nuts, which have recently been recommended for their medicinal 

 qualities, are derived from Kola acuminata (West Africa). 



Family Malvaceae. — Calyx gamosepalous ; petals contorted in 

 the bud ; stamens numerous, monadelphous ; anthers extrorse, 

 monothecious ; pollen-grains spiny (Figs. 497-500). 



