CHAPTER I 



BOTANY AND NOMENCLATURE 



The cacao-tree is a native of tropical regions extending 

 from Mexico through Central and South America and the 

 West Indies to Brazil. The following species are on 

 record : 



(1) Theobroma oacao. (6) Theobroma guianensis. 



(2) „ pentagona. (7) „ oralifolia. 



(3) „ bicolor. (8) „ speciosa. 



(4) „ angustifolia. (9) „ miorooarpa. 



(5) „ sylveBtris. 



Only the first two species appear to be of commercial 

 importance. The Mexicans gave to Theobroma cacao the 

 name of Cacaoquahuitl, which has in great measure been 

 retained in the word chocolate. The word " cocoa "is of 

 commercial derivation. 



Trees of Theobroma cacao grow, in some places, to 

 30 ft. or even 40 ft. in height. The average may be 

 taken at 15 ft. to 25 ft. in West Indian cultivation, but 

 size is chiefly dependent on the fertility of the soil. 



The genus Theobroma is included under the order Ster- 

 cuUacecB, by Messrs. Bentham and Hooker in their " Genera 

 Plantarum." The generic and specific characters are as 

 follows, and are to be found in Grisebach's " Flora of the 

 West Indies," and other works : 



ORDER STERCULIACE.E— Tribe Buettnerie^ 



Calyx 6 paitite, coloured. Petals 5 : limb cuoullate, with 



Generic a terminal, spathulate appendage. Column 10-fid. ; fertile 



Description lobes bi-antheriferous ; anthers bilooular. Style 5-fid. 



of 1 Fruit baccate, 5-Gelled ; cells pulpy, polyspermous. Embryo 



Theobroma I ezalbuminous ; cotyledons fleshy, corrugate. Trees ; leaves 



\ entire ; pedicejs fascicled or solitary, lateral. 



1 A 



