360 



GUAXUMA. 



[append. 



ing, with the exterior calyx monophyllous, having eight 

 notches. 



Nat. Char. Stem of six feet and more ; bark black, 

 few branches. 



Leaves cordate, rounded, acuminated, entire ; the pe- 

 tioles cylindrical. Stipules deciduous, acute. 



Flowers, large, yellow, like those of the cotton- 

 plant, axillary and terminal ; each peduncle of one, two, 

 and three flowers. Calyx double, permanent, the exte- 

 rior monophyllous, with eight notches, acute; the inte- 

 rior monophyllous, campanulate, divided into five seg- 

 ments, acute and long. CAROLLApentapetalous, yellow, 

 and the petals hold the stameniferous column upon their 

 bases. Stamina numerous, fixed to the stameniferous 

 column by subulate filaments; anthers rounded. Pistil 

 consists of one oval germen acuminate; one style, which 

 is longer than the column of the stamina, erect, and it 

 has four or five separate stigmata. Pericarp a capsule 

 of almost one inch long, pentangular and quinquc-locu- 

 lar, inclosed in the calyx, which is much enlarged after 

 fecundation. 



The plant is to be found in Pernambuco in places near 

 to the sea, or where salt water reaches, and principally 

 upon the banks of the rivers Goiana and Paraiba. I 

 have found it in flour and fruit in the months of Febru- 

 ary and March. 



The persons who catch crabs tie them to each other 

 with the bark of the plant ; and this is the only use to 

 which it is applied. Cordage might be made of its 

 inner rind, as is practised in some parts of America 

 with the hibiscus ])Oj)ulncus ; also the hibiscus tiliaccus. 

 from which at Cayenne cords for common use are made* 



