Marcgraff calls it Apeiba; and Aublet adopted the same name when he fixed the genus of the three species which he describes in Guiana, and he supposes that the species tibourbu is the same as that which Marcgraff speaks of in Pernambuco; they are certainly alike, but I imagine that it must be a variety, from the size of the tree, which only grows there to the height of eight feet, and here it exceeds 20 feet. There is less hair upon the leaves, the silky work of the edges is not so deep; and there is even some difference in the shape; the stamina are manifestly monadelphic. This last circumstance inclined me to call it apeiba monadelpha, but the use to which the tree is applied in the construction of rafts decided me in calling it cimbalaria.
Embira Vermelha, Unona carminativa:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.
This plant has a red fibrous bark, of which as much use is made in manufacturing cordage as of the embira branca; but the bark ought not be permitted to be gathered, for the tree produces seeds, of which the capsules have the taste and the pungency of black pepper. Many persons make use of them as a spice in cooking, and some even prefer them to pepper; they are carminative. If the bark is taken off, the tree dies; the seeds are worthy of becoming an article of trade as a spice.[273]
I have omitted a great number of plants which possess fibrous properties, that this Dissertation might not be made too long; some of them are not much in use, and others are not applied to any purpose. I shall mention some, such as the guaxuma branca da mata (helicteras baruensis) of which the inner bark is white and strong, but on being wetted, it becomes rotten and breaks. However, I think it might be applied to the manufacture of paper. The barriguda or sumàûma (bombax ventricosa:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.) and the Sertam plant, called the embiratanha, which I have named bombax mediterranea, also afford fibre from the bark, but they are not much used. All the species anona (called commonly areticum) afford fibre, and of these the plant which gives the strongest and the most durable fibre is the areticum a pé. The cord with which the flag of Fort Cabedello at Paraiba is hoisted, is made of the rind of this plant, and it has been there for many years. Finally all the plants of the genera hibiscus, sidas, altheas, and in general all the mallows afford fibre of greater or less strength. The embiriba (lecythis) gives tow, and although it cannot be applied to the manufacture of cordage, its use is great for caulkers.
An Essay on the Utility of establishing Gardens in the principal Provinces of Brazil.
The first part of this pamphlet treats of the advantages which Brazil would obtain by the establishment of Royal Botanic Gardens. The second part contains a list of those plants which it would be expedient to transplant from other quarters of the globe to Brazil, and from one part of Brazil to the other. I shall only translate that portion of the second part which relates to the plants of Brazil.—Transl.
Plants of Parà and Maranham.
Cravo do Maranham, Myrtus caryophylata.
Pixuri.