92 
TH ALAM I FLORAS. 
tube, pentadelphous at the apex, with the brother- 
hoods connected throughout, filiform, bearing at the 
apex 2-3 linear or winding anthers (so as to resemble 
a single anther). In other respects as in the genus, 
Bombax. 
Name , from sgiov wool or down , and divdgov a tree. 
1. Eriodendron anfractuosum. West India Cotton- 
tree. 
Anthers anfractuose, leaflets entire, stems generally 
aculeate. 
Gossypium arboreum maximum spinosum, Sloa?ie, If. 72. — 
Bombax fbliis digitatis, brachiis erecto-patentibus, Browne , 277. 
— B. pentandrum, Jacq. Amer. 191. t. 176. f. 70. — Cav. diss. V. 
293. t. 151. — Eriodendron anfractuosum, Be Cand. Prod. I. 
479. — Bot. Mag. 3360. 
HAB. Common every where. 
FL. Beginning of the year. 
A lofty tree with the stem straight, columnar, armed when 
young with strong acuminate spines ; in some, dividing low 
down ; in others rising to the height of 50-80 feet before it gives 
off the branches. Occasionally it is ventricose at some distance 
from the ground, so that it is thicker there, than it is towards 
the root. In old trees, several broad spurs, like buttresses, are 
stretched to the distance of several feet or even yards. In 
situations where it is sheltered from the east or north, our 
prevailing winds, the branches form a large and regular head, 
and afford an extensive shade. But where it is less favourably 
situated, and especially if the stem be lofty, the branches may 
be observed to be deficient on the side which is exposed. The 
branches are horizontal or spreading. Leaves palmate : leaf- 
lets 6-7, oblongo-lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers very numer- 
ous, strewed in great abundance below the trees, during the 
period of flowering ; of a pale rose-colour, giving out a peculiar 
smell, compared by some to that of cheese, and by others to that 
of primroses. Calyx persistent, obtusely 5-fid, with the seg- 
ments unequal. Petals obovato-oblong, shining and tinged 
with purple internally, sericeo- pubescent externally, reflected. 
Column of the filaments entire and tubular at the base, dividing 
into 5 erecto-patent trigonal branches: anthers linear, winding 
in different directions, forming three circumvolutions, constitut- 
ing a large oblong, apparently single, anther. Ovary concealed 
in the tube of the column : style length of the stamens, terete, 
purplish : stigmata of 5 lanceolate pellucido-pubcrulous lobes. 
Capsule ovali-oblong, terete, obtuse, 5-celled, 5-valved: valves 
