57 
although  thev  may  retard  the  healing  up  of  the  wounds,  are  not 
necessarily  injurious  to  the  tree.  They  certainly  do  not  affect  its 
physiological  functions,  but  only  represent  a danger  as  they  offer  a 
chance  to  certain  insects  to  lay  their  eggs  into  the  wood,  so  that 
subsequently  the  trees  may  suffer  from  or  even  succumb  to  the 
ravages  of  the  larvae  and  insects  (wood-burrowing  beetles)  eman- 
ating from  these  eggs.  But  this  danger  is  easily  avoided  by  paint- 
ing the  cuts  after  the  co'lection  of  the  latex  and  “ scraps  ” with  an 
antiseptic  paint.  It  also  appears  that  this  simple  and  inexpensive 
treatment  assists  materially  in  the  healing  of  these  cuts,  as  all  the 
cuts  thus  treated  began  to  heal  up  already  within  a week  after  the 
tapping.  Dr.  C.  O.  Weber,  Ph.  D.,  in  the  India  Rubber  and 
Gutta  Percha  Trades’  yournal  of  September,  2gth  igo2. 
To  be  continued. 
THE  HEVEAS  OR  SERINGUEIRAS. 
BY 
J.  BARBOSA  RODRIGUES, 
Dirfxtor,  Botanmc  Gardens,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 
Translated  by 
A.  D.  MACHADO, 
Assistant  Superintendent , Botanic  Gardens,  Singapore, 
Chapter  II. 
Botanical. 
The  Ule,  borracha,  seringa,  or  caoutchouc,  are  synonymous 
names  given  indiscriminately  to  the  various  species  of  the  genus 
Hevea  of  the  family  of  the  Euphorbiacejc.  They  are  majestic 
trees,  erect,  with  few  branches  except  at  the  apex,  attaining  from 
30  to  40  metres  in  height,  with  one,  more  or  less,  in  diameter.  The 
leaves  are  alternate,  bistipulate,  with  long  petioles  and  digitato- 
trifoliate.  d'he  petioles  are  at  the  apex,  on  the  upper  side,  glandu- 
lar, and  the  petiolules  are  small  and  naked.  The  inflorescence  is 
hermaphroditic,  in  axillary  or  terminal  panicles,  producing  trisper- 
mous,  trisulcate,  large  and  dehiscent  pods  with  hard  seeds  resembl- 
ing those  of  the  castor  oil  plant  {Ricinus  communis,  L.)  Animals 
devour  them  with  avidity,  while  even  men  will  eat  them,  without 
fear  of  consequences,  notwithstanding  that  they  produce  a very 
excellent  oil. 
In  September,  all  leaves  are  shed,  to  be  in  October,  covered 
with  new  foliage,  after  which  blooming  commences  and  lasts  till 
November,  when  the  period  of  rains  sets  in.  Fruits  appear  only 
in  April  and  May,  at  the  time  when  as  a rule,  the  ground  is  sodden 
by  flood.  It  is  a fact  worth  recording  that  the  genus  Hevea  is 
noted  not  only  for  the  quality  of  milk  it  produces,  but  also  for  Its 
properties.  And  yet  it  is  not  the  Euphorbiaceae  alone  that  pro- 
duce milk,  but  as  my  concern  is  solely  with  the  Amazonian  flora. 
