REPOET ON THE CAOUTCHOUC OP COMMERCE. 13 
I# • * 
obvious difference being in the leaves. ' The Caoutchouc 
from this second species he did n‘ot consider so good 
as that of 0 . elastica. 
In Nicaragua, Caoutchouc is obtained from Castilloa 
elastica , and another species which may be Castilloa 
Markhcmiana , or a third species.* M. Paul Levy, 
in a letter to me, thus describes it: — Very near 
to the C. elastica , but its leaf is oval. Eruit 
6-10 centimetres in diameter; reddish yellow pulp 
enveloping the seeds. Trunk smooth, cylindrical, very 
straight, of about 50 centimetres, diameter rarely 
reaching 150 centimetres; primary branches not 
numerous and comparatively short, giving rise to a 
multitude of secondary branches, which are long and 
slender. Leaves in tufts of 5-6 or more, with a 
terminal bud. Behind these leaves in December appear 
small grey points, which eventually burst into an infinite 
number of small blossoms, many of which the Eebruary 
winds carry off. The remaining ones promptly ripen 
to fruit, and from two centimetres, the width of the 
flower, a fruit is produced from 6-12 centimetres in 
diameter. The fruit is covered beneath with greenish 
grey scales, and attached to the branch by a very short 
peduncle. In April the leaves fall off, and new ones 
are produced immediately. In the middle of January 
the tree begins to flower, and in March is the period 
of fructification. 
However, as my specimens have not yet arrived, I 
cannot say whether it be identical or not. 
Dr. Seemannf speaks of •“a species of Caoutchouc 
“ known by its Aztec name of Ule .” Now he knew 
the C. elastica well, and often spoke to me respecting 
it. If it was C. elastica , I think he would have used 
more concise language. 
General Geographic Distribution. — The TTle trees are found 
in Mexico, all Central American [Republics (viz., Guate- 
* Since the above was in type, I have been favoured with a personal visit by 
M. Levy. On shewing him the proofs of the two plates of Castilloa here given, he 
remarked that his species differed from both, being in its characters intermediate 
between them. 
f “ Dottings on the Roadside in Panama, Nicaragua, and Mosquito,” London, 1870. 
