Leaves cordate, rounded, acuminated, entire; the petioles cylindrical. Stipules deciduous, acute.
Flowers, Large, yellow, like those of the cotton plant, axillary and terminal; each peduncle of one, two, and three flowers. Calyx double, permanent, the exterior monophyllous, with eight notches, acute; the interior monophyllous, campanulate, divided into five segments, acute and long. Corolla pentapetalous, yellow, and the petals hold the stameniferous column upon their bases. Stamina numerous, fixed to the stameniferous column by subulate filaments; anthers rounded. Pistil consists of one oval germen acuminate; one style, which is longer than the column of the stamina, erect, and it has four or five separate stigmata. Pericarp a capsule of almost one inch long, pentangular and quinque-locular, inclosed in the calyx, which is much enlarged after fecundation.
The plant is to be found in Pernambuco in places near to the sea, or where salt water reaches, and principally upon the banks of the rivers Goiana and Paraiba. I have found it in flower and fruit in the months of February and March.
The persons who catch crabs tie them to each other with the bark of the plant; and this is the only use to which it is applied. Cordage might be made of its inner rind, as is practised in some parts of America with the hibiscus populneus; also the hibiscus tiliaceus, from which at Cayenne cords for common use are made.
Embira Branca or Jangadeira, Apeiba Cimbalaria:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.
Class, Poliandria:—Order, Monogynia.
Gen. Char. Calyx, monophyllous, trifid; pericarp a decem-locular capsule, covered with thorns or spines, depressed, opening only on the lower side.
Spec. Char. Stem of 20 to 30 feet long, and of one foot and a half in diameter.
Leaves ovate, lanceolate, cordate, reticulate, green and smooth above, covered with hairs, which are of a copper colour underneath. Stamina monadelphic. The plant is to be found in Pernambuco, abounding in the virgin woods. It blossoms from August to October.
The timber of this tree is not compact, and its specific gravity is much less than that of water, with which it does not easily become saturated. The inhabitants of the coast make use of it for the purpose of constructing rafts; three or four of these trees are put together, and are well fastened to each other[272]. The bark of the tree is fibrous, and from it a great quantity of cordage is made for the common purposes of the country.