L'OJIBA'CEX, a group of plants considered by some a distinct natural order, by others as a mere section of Sterculiacem. They are usually large trees, with broad deep-green leaves, and flowers of con siderable size. Technically they differ from Malracece in having two cells to their anthers which are often doubled down upon themselves, in their calyx opening in an irregular rather than a valvate manner, and in their stamens being usually collected into five parcels. Their anthers are often described as having only one cell ; but this is an inaccurate mode of speaking of them, inasmuch as they are formed upon the common two-celled type, and merely have the cells united at the point of the connective.
This group contains some of the most majestic and beautiful trees that are known, but nothing of much medical or economical import ance is furnished by them. Their wood is light and spongy ; the long cottony substance found within their fruit, and which has gained for some of them the name of Cotton-Trees, is too short in the staple to be manufactured into linen ; and the slightly acid or mucilaginous qualities that occur in the group are altogether inferior to those of many Malvacece. The Baobab Tree is one of them. [Anaxsosaa.]
It is remarkable for the excessive thickness of its trunk as compared with its height, and this is a character of common occurrence. Seve ral American species spread enormously near the ground, forming huge buttresses with the angles of their trunks. This is especially the case with the genus Eriodendrcm, which is moreover often defended by very large conical prickles, which do not fall off till they are exfo liated by the gradual distension of the trunk. Among these plants is a singular instance of a flower resembling the paw of some animal.