BOTANY OF SOUTHERN RHODESIA. 431 
ABUTILON MATOPENSE, Sp. nov. 
Caulis fruticosus erectus rigidus teres pulverulentus ; foliis 
breviuscule petiolatis ovato-cordatis e basi palmatim 7-nerviis, 
nerviis subtus prominentibus apice acutis margine breviter et 
inæqualiter serratis utrinque densissime et mollissime velutinis 
albidis; stipulis lanceolatis uninerviis pulverulentis caducis ; 
floribus inter mediocres generis axillaribus pedunculatis ; 
pedunculis unifloris apicem versus articulatis primum 
quam foliis brevioribus, pedunculis fructiferis + elongatis ; 
calycis campanulati 5-fidi lobis ovalibus 3-nerviis acuminatis 
externe pulverulentis intus pilosis ; petalis 5 aurantiacis ; tubo 
stamineo conico brevi; carpellis eirciter 20 stellatim dispositis 
sparse stellatis calyce subzquilongis coalitis superne mucronatis 
uniloeularibus bivalviis sepissime 1-spermis, seminibus subreni- 
formibus pubescentibus. 
Species A. fruticoso, Guill. & Perr., affinis, differt calycibus car- 
pellis subzequilongis, dorso conspicue 3-nerviis, petalis aurantiacis 
et majoribus, carpellis numerosioribus et mucronatis. 
Hab. Matopo Hills, old Kaffir lands. Sept. No. 98. 
The stem is l'5-2 m. high; the leaves + 4 cm. long and 
3:3 cm. broad, the petiole + 1 cm. long, the stipules + 4 mm. 
long and 1 mm. broad; the flowering peduncles + 2 em. and the 
fruiting slightly longer; the lobes of the calyx are 8 mm. 
long and 5 mm. broad; the petals + 1'5 em. long and l'4 cm. 
broad; the carpels + 6 mm. long and 4 mm. broad. 
The erect, almost woody stem, whieh appears clothed with 
leaves owing to the shortness of the petioles, and the white 
velvety tomentum give this plant a very characteristic appearance. 
The flowers, which do not exceed the leaves, are a most brilliant 
orange and open during the day, which, according to Dr. Masters 
(in Oliver, Fl. Trop. Afr. i. p. 188), is in India characteristic of 
A. fruticósum alone. It was not a common species on the 
hills, and was only seen where land had been laid down under 
cultivation. 
HIBISCUS MICRANTHUS, Linn., forma. 
Matopo Hills. Fl. and Fr. Oct. 255. 
Distrib. Widely spread in Tropical Africa, Arabia, India, 
Ceylon. 
Shrub 1°5 m.; stem green and rather leafless. Corolla white, 
turning red when dried. Whole plant very viscid. 
