64 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
ally room to make themselves visible. The uncautious bota- 
nist, who, allured by the deceptive appearance, should ap- 
proach the tree to pluck the blossoms, would bitterly rue his 
attempt. The trunk and branches of the tree are hollow, 
like those of the trumpet tree ( Cecropio ), and provided be- 
tween space and space with partitions, which answer to the 
position of the leaves on the outside. 
These hollows are inhabited by a light brownish ant, about 
two or three tenths of an inch long, which inflicts the most 
painful bites. Its antennae are placed near the middle of the 
anterior portion of the head ; mandibles triangular ; peduncle 
of the abdomen with two rings ; the anus hairy and provided 
with a sting or piercer ( Myrmica , Latr., nova species). They 
fall upon their prey with the greatest virulence, and insert 
their mandibles almost instantly, as soon as they come in 
contact with any soft substance, emitting a whitish fluid ; 
their bite causes swelling and itching for several days. If 
they find themselves captured, they attack and kill one ano- 
ther like the scorpions. 
The Arawak Indians call the tree Jacuna, and the ant Ja- 
cuna sae ; the Warrows, Epouahari, the literal translation 
being Ant tree ; the Caribis, Itassi ; the colonists, from its 
growth, long John.” 
The presence of the scarious stipulae, in the form of an 
ochrea, is sufficient to determine the natural order to which 
Triplaris belongs ; other evidences, namely, the formation of 
its leaves, its organs of fructification, and particularly the 
erect ovulum and the superior radicle, put its relationship to 
Polygonece beyond doubt. It resembles strikingly the Cocco- 
loba in the form of its petiole, and the manner in which it is 
attached to the stem ; we have in Coccoloba a similar mark 
opposite the petiole, and those asperities which are to be 
found below the latter organ are likewise observable in Tri- 
plaris. In Coccoloba the calyx swells and forms a juicy 
berry, in Triplaris it becomes three times as large as the nut. 
In its hollow trunk and branches, and the septums of the 
latter ; in the division of the sexes, it resembles Cecropia ; 
but to these affinities in appearance but little importance can 
be attached. 
Triplaris has received hitherto a very meagre description. 
Jacquin gives the representation of its fruit, and Aublet a 
branch ; it is however evident that the flowers of the male 
were described from those of the female flower : the bractea, 
present in both, has been completely passed over ; the calyx 
