880 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
crumpled at the edge, the petals being much reflexed. The 
stamens numerous, and collected into a tube, which spreads at the 
top into an umbrella-like head, from which rises a slender curved 
style, terminating in a rayed stigma. 
The various species of Bombax and Ceiba, which also belong to 
the order, are gigantic American forest-trees, with huge buttresses 
projecting from their colossal trunks. They are more noted for 
their appearance than for their properties. 
The Malvals, with the exception of the Tilias and Malvas, are 
- trees and shrubs of the tropics. The Indian Cress, Tropeolum, in- 
clude some of our prettiest flowers. The Mallows abound also in the 
tropics, but many species are common field plants with us, gradually 
diminishing towards the north. They all abound in mucilage, which 
is found salutary in cases of irritation. Dr. Asa Gray arranges the 
order into four tribes, viz. :—1. Malopee, containing three genera, 
the Malopa of Linnzus being typical. 2. Malvee, containing 
Althea, Malva, Sida, Abutilon. 3. Urenee, containing Mala- 
chia, Pavonia, and some doubtful genera. 4. Hibiscee, in which 
Hibiscus is the typical genera ; and the well-known Cotton-plant, 
Gossypium. The genera, however, are riot remarkable for any 
valuable properties, although some of the species, the Cotton-tree 
of India (Bombax pentandrum), yield a useful gum, and several 
of the species have their seeds wrapped up in woolly hairs, which 
are usefully employed as stufing material. The geographt 
distributors seem to limit the Sterculee to India and Africa, the . 
Bombacee to tropical America ; the Helecteree seem to be unknown 
in Africa, but extend to Tasmania and New Zealand. ores 
The Byrivertacex are trees, shrubs, sometimes climbers, wholly 
intertropical. They are natives of Australia, New Zealand, South 
Africa, Asia, and tropical America, the most remarkable species 
being Theobroma cacao, a small tree, of which Demerara has | 
whole forests. The seeds of this plant form the principal m- 
gredient in chocolate, and an ardent spirit is distilled from ae - : 
fruit. 
Chili and Brazil, of little interest. 
The Vivianiacee are herbaceous and half-shrubby plants of 2 5 z 
The TropxoLace® are smooth, herbaceous, trailing, or twine 
plants, of tender texture and acrid taste, better known for . 
