Gastonia
(named in honour of Gaston de Bourbon, 1608 to 1660, natural son of Henri IV. of France). ORD. Araliaceae. A stove evergreen shrub, allied to Aralia (which see for culture).
G. cutispongia (spongy-barked). Bois d'Eponge. fl., panicles 1ft. long; umbels at end of crowded erecto-patent branches; petals, stamens, styles, and cells of ovary, each ten to twelve. l. at the tops of the branches, impari-pinnate; leaflets six to eight, coriaceous, ovate, obtuse, quite entire. Mauritius. A tall, smooth tree, covered with spongy bark. This plant is now referred to the genus Polyscias.