COMBRETACEiE. 
15 
and nerves, and appresso-pubescent beneath : petiole short, 
compressed. Peduncles about six together, below and 
close to the cluster ot young leaves, nearly an inch in 
length, compressed, aureo-tomentose, each bearing a glo- 
bular head of flowers, pendulous : flowers small, yellow- 
ish, very shortly pedicelled, inserted into small excava- 
tions at the extremity ol the peduncle. Calvx urceolate, 
edentulous or obscurely 5 toothed. Stamens 10, erect, 
inserted on the sides ot the calyx ; 5 of them scarcely 
longer than the calyx ; the other 5 nearly twice the length. 
Ovary villous ; style length ot the longer stamens ; stigma 
acute. Drupe size and shape of an clive, green, oblong ; 
nut oblong, compressed, hexangular, l-celled, 1-seedodT 
This tree sheds its leaves, and at the same time the fruit 
drops, early in the year, and for a time the branches re- 
main naked. The young leaves, which have a silky 
russet appearance, and the flowers, are produced during 
the months of May and June. This tree, according to 
Robinson has received the name of Negressce from the 
Negroes. The bark has an aromatic astringent bitter 
taste, and a decoction of it, we are informed, lias been 
employed as a remedy for the complicated diseases, re- 
sembling constitutional syphilis, to which the African race 
is so subject, 'i he wood is of a yellow colour, is durable, 
and, being of a close grain, takes a line polish. It is em- 
ployed to make bedsteads, and other furniture. 
II. Terminalia. 
Flowers, by abortion, generally polygamous. 
Limb of the calyx deciduous, bell-shaped, 5-fid 
with the lobes acute. Petals O. Stamens 10, 
biserial, longer than the calyx. Ovary bi-ovuled ; 
style filiform, subacute. Drupe not crowned 
with the calyx, generally juiceless, indehiscent, 
one-seeded ; seed amygdaloid ; cotyledons spi- 
rally convoluted. — DC. 
Trees or shrubs, natives of the Tropics. Leaves usu- 
ally in bunches at the termination of the branches. Flow- 
ers in a spike: spikes racemose or panicled ; 2 flowers 
situated at the lower, $ at the upper portion of ihe spike. 
— Named from the leaves being- collected in clusters at the 
termination of the branches. 
