BOTANICAL SOCIETY OE LONDON. 
71 
JULY Gth. 
J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 
The following Paper (accompanied by Drawings) was 
read “ On Bertholletia excelsa ” by R. H. Schomburgk, 
Esq. 
Bertholletia excelsa. — Humb. and Bonpl. PL LEq. 
Cl. xiii. Ord. i. Ord. Nat. LECYTHiDEiE. — Richard. 
Fructus Globosus, drupaceus, lsevissimus, quadrilocularis, non 
dehiscens ; loculis 6 — 8, spermis ; dissepimentis in fructu ma- 
ture obliterate ; columella centrali libera, sarcocarpio crasso ; 
endocarpio duro, externe sulcis ramosis notato, evalvi. Se- 
mina subreniforma-triquetra, rugosissima, columellse centrali 
affixa. 
Integumentum exterius lignosum, interius membranaseum, utrum- 
que e laminis duabus compositum. Embryo caruosus, partibus, 
omnibus invicem conferruminatis. 
Arbor altissima ; ramis alternis ; junioribus apice foliosis. Folia 
alterna, magna, oblonga, intgerrima, non punctata, coricacea. 
Stipulse nullee Flores Flavi ? Fructus magni. 
Humb. et Bonpl. 
Calix superus bilobus deciduus petala sex calyci inserta, subaequalia, 
discus annularis intus staminibus creberis obsitus, hinc dilia- 
tatus in ligulam membranaceum papilloso lamellatam. Ovarium 
inferum sub 4 loculare ; ovulis axi centrali affixis, Stylus 1, 
Stigma obtusum. Mihi. 
A tree of the first size, the trunk is straight, the bark 
deeply furrowed, and of a dark grey colour ; it reaches the 
height of ninety to one hundred feet, before it divides into 
spreading alternate branches ; the leaves are petiolated eight 
to ten inches long, alternate, oblong, coriaceous, somewhat 
wavy, the margin obsolete repand, without pellucid dots; 
petiole semiterate, canaliculate, amplexicaulc, without sti- 
pulae ; from petiole to petiole of the alternate leaves extends 
a coloured streak; flowers in racemes, terminal; calyx supe- 
