HIBISCUS Moscheutos. 
Musk Hibiscus. 
MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. Matvacex. (Marrowwonrs, Vegetable Kingdom, p. 368.) 
HIBISCUS, L. 
$ Abelmoschus. DC. 
H. Moscheutos; folis ovatis acuminatis serratis sepe 3-lobis subtüs albo- 
tomentosis supra pubescenti-scabris, pedunculis unifloris petiolisque spe 
connatis. Torrey & Gray, Fl. Am. Sept. p. 237. 
H. Moscheutos. Linn. Cav. diss. III. t. 65, f. 1 & 2, Bot. Mag. t. 882. 
H. palustris. Linn. according to Torrey & Gray. 
This noble plant, although one of the oldest inhabitants 
of our gardens, is seldom seen in cultivation. According to 
the learned authors of the Flora of North America, it in- 
habits the borders of marshes, particularly near the salt 
water, in Canada, and throughout the United States, flowering 
in the months of August and September. 
They describe it thus :— Stem, three to five feet high, 
minutely tomentose. Leaves about five inches long, and three 
wide, rather obtuse at the base, with a long acumination, often 
with three short abruptly acuminate lobes, velvety-tomentose 
beneath. Peduncles axillary, two inches long, articulated a 
little below the flower, often coalescing with the petiole to a 
considerable distance above the base. Flowers as large as 
in the common Hollyhock, rose-colour, or sometimes nearly 
white, crimson at the centre. Petals obovate,retuse. Stamineal 
column one-third the length of the petals—Styles exserted. 
Capsule as large as in H. Syriacus. 
They also state, that from numerous observations, they 
are convinced that H. Moscheutos and H. palustris are not 
distinct species, for it is not uncommon to find the pedun- 
cles and petioles both distinct and united on the same speci- 
February, 1847. > 
