BOMBAX

(Bo^(3«|.) A genus containing many species of very large trees, whose capsules are filled with a fine cottony substance enveloping the seeds. It gives its name to the natural order Bo7tibaceee, allied to Malvaccous plants, where it is a ociated with the celebrated Baobab, and many more gigantic inhabitants of tropical forests. The bombax trees are remarkable for forming on their sides next the ground liuge buttre es, projecting so far from the parent trunk as to be capable of screening many men. The quantity of cotton yielded by these trees is enormous, and often covers the earth around the roots to the depth of several feet; it is unfortunately of too short a staple to be used for manufacturing purposes. BOMBAZINE. {Bofx-fiyl, a silk worm.) A fabric of which the warp is silk and the weft (or shoot) worsted. It is chiefly made in black, and as an article of mourning for female dre . The capital employed in Norwich, during the most flourishing period of the bombazine trade, amounted to 300,000^., but at present it is below 100,000/. [s. 165]