204 xxv. Malvaceae (masters). [Hibiscus. 



long or longer than the petioles. Flowers numerous, crowded, in terminal 

 leafy panicles. Epicalyx of 12 linear stipule-like villose bracts, united at the 

 extreme base, nearly equalling the cup-shaped 5-lobed calyx, whose lobes are 

 ovate-acute. Petals pink, oblong, 3 or 4 times the length of the calyx. Sta- 

 minal-tube projecting beyond the corolla. Styles 5, exstrted. Capsule pyri- 

 form, obtuse, somewhat 5-lobed ; valves 5, blunt, slightly winged at the edges. 

 Seeds unknown. 



Nile Land. White Nile, Petherick ! Ugani and Madi, Speke and Grant I 



23. H. Sabdariffa, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 453. Annual or sometimes 

 perennial, with a slightly branched, erect, smooth or slightly hispid, otteti 

 purplish stem. Leaves stalked ; lower ones (and sometimes the upper ones 

 also) undivided, cordate or cuneate at the base, ovate, acute, dentate, pal- 

 mately 3-5-nerved, with a single gland on the central nerve near the base, 

 smooth or with a few weak hairs on both surfaces ; upper leaves generally 

 larger, palmately 3-5-lobed ; lobes oblong, lanceolate, the central one 

 longest. Peduncles solitary, axillary, 1-flowered, thickened upwards, much 

 shorter than the leaves. Epicalyx of 8-10, linear-oblong, villose or tuber- 

 culate segments, connate below with the base of the calyx. Calyx cup- 

 shaped, longer than the epicalyx, often purplish, 5-parted ; segments deltoid, 

 acuminate, studded with asperities, especially on the margins. Corolla yellow, 

 much larger than the calyx. Capsule ovoid, pointed, densely villose, shorter 

 than the calyx ; valves leathery, pointed. Seeds numerous, reniibrm, pilose. 



North Central, E. Vogel! 



Nile Land. Kordofau, Kotschy ! Sennar, Ilartman ; Uuvovo and Ugani, Speke and 

 Grant ! 



Mozamb. Distr. Zambesi, Lower Shire Valley, Dr. Kirk! 



A commonly cultivated plant in tropical countries, and, like most plants so circumstanced, 

 very variable in stature, form of leaves, etc. In the East and West Indies it is used as a 

 cooling and agreeable article of diet. Dr. Kirk say3 that it is used by the natives of Africa 

 to flavour broth, and the seeds are reported to be aphrodisiac. 



24. H. cannabinus, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 450. An erect, branched 

 annual, more or less thickly beset with aculeate tubercles. Leaves on very 

 long stalks, deeply palmately 5-7-lobed ; lobes oblong-lanceolate, sinuous, 

 denticulate, or sometimes more deeply divided, smooth on both surfaces or 

 with a few prickly hairs, 1-glandulose on the under surface. Peduncles 

 axillary, short, thick. Epicalyx of 5-7, linear, slightly coherent segments, 

 shorter than the calyx, whose 5 lobes are lanceolate, acuminate, 1-glandu- 

 lose, their margins and midribs fringed with coarse purplish bristles. Corolla 

 yellow, with a purple centre, three or four times larger than the calyx. Cap- 

 sule ovoid, pointed, villose, half the length of the calyx. Seeds numerous, 

 slightly pilose.— 7 H. obtusatus, Schum. et Thonn. PI. Guin. 321. H. con- 

 gener, Schum. et Thonn. 1. c. 319. //. radiatus, Cav. Diss. 150. t. 154. f. 2 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Aust. i. 212. //. verrucosus, Guill. et Perr. Fl. Seneg. i. 87. -#• 

 asper, Hook. f. Fl. Nigrit. 228. H. aculeatus, Don, Gen. Syst. i. 480. 



Cultivated for the sake of its fibre in most parts of Africa. 

 Upper Guinea. Niger, Burton ! Barter ! 

 North Central, E. Voyel .' 



