20 calyciflorjE. 



the centre branch sub-divided into three branchlets, 

 which are simple, the central one being the longest. 

 Peduncle and its divisions compressed, minutely puberu- 

 lous. Flowers sessile, white, with a faint but not unplea- 

 sant odour ; each with an ovate concave deciduous brae- 

 tea. Calyx externally puberulous, with a pair of minute 

 lanceolate bracteoles at its base. Petals very small, al- 

 ternating with the calycine segments, rounded, concave, 

 minutely puberulous, caducous. Stamens 10. Ovary 

 compressed, obovate, incano — puberulous, maiked with 

 10 stria3 : seed 1, germinating within the nut. 



This is a common tree in most of the sandy bays, 

 and along the margin of lagoons throughout the Island. 

 The Spaniards call it mangle bobo or foolish mangrove. 

 It is known in this country as the white mangrove. The 

 bark possesses tanning properties, though not in a very 

 powerful degree. Mr. Bel!, who has conducted a Tannery 

 in the vicinity of Kingston for many years, informs me 

 that he finds it useful when combined with the pods of the 

 Divi divi, in order to qualify the too active tanning prin- 

 ciple of the latter. 



Tribe II. Combretea. 



V. COMBRETUM. 



Calyx infundibuliform, 4-lobed, deciduous. Pe- 

 tals 4. Stamens 8, biserial ; the 4 which are op- 

 posite to the petals being higher in their inseition, 

 and much exserted. Ovary 2-5-ovuled. Style 

 exserted, acute. Fruit 4-winged, l-celled, 1- 

 seeded, indehiscent. Seed angled, pendulous : 

 cotyledons with a middle fold, reHexed, cruciaio- 

 divaricated. 



Subscandent shrubs or trees. — The name Combretum 

 was given to a climbing plant by Pliny. 



1. Combretum laxum. Red Withe. 



Unarmed scandent, leaves opposite oval acu- 

 minate glabrous, spikes opposite ebracteated, the 

 terminal one ped uncled, calyx internally villous, 

 fruit 4-winged. — DC. 



