Ihhscm.] XXV. MALVACE.E (MASTERS). 205 



ftrf^aarf^ 3 ' ? 0t * cAy! Schw e™f"rth! Heughlin ; Abyssinia, Schirnper! Minings, 



Lower Guinea. Congo, 5/wt'tt / 

 Mozamb. Distr., Z)™. Kirk and Metier ! 



The plant is also widely distributed by cultivation through India and other parts of Asia, 

 ana m subtropical Australia. 



Very variable in the form and dimensions of the leaves, and to a less extent in the colour 

 of the flowers. H. radiatus, Cav., only differs in the absence of calyciue glands. 



25. H. crassinervis, ffochst. in Rich. Fl. Abt/ss. i. 61. An under- 

 snrub, its surface covered, except the old wood, with dense rust-coloured 

 stellate rii>;id pubescence. Branches spreading. Leaves about 1 in. long, 

 4-5 lines broad, on short petioles, subcordate, oblong-ovate, coarsely and 

 irregularly serrated, 3-5-nerved ; nerves prominent. Stipules setaceous, de- 

 ciduous. Peduncles solitary, axillary, remote or clustered at the ends of the 

 branches, longer than the leaves, jointed above the middle and densely covered 

 with rufous hairs. Flowers small, scarcely £ in. long. Epicalyx' of 7-8, 

 unear-spathulate segments, which equal or even exceed the 5 triangular 

 lobes of the bell-shaped calyx. Corolla pink, exceeding the calyx, pilose 

 on the outer surface. Capsule roundish or ovoid obtuse ; valves smooth, 

 obtuse or apiculate, twice the length of the calyx. Seeds cottony. — Walp. 

 Ann. ii. 147. //. eriospermus, Hochst. in PL Schimp. Abyss. H. brevipes, 

 Garcke in Bot. Zeit. 1849, 854. II. erianlhus, R. Br. in Salt. Abyss. App. 65. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Salt ! Schirnper ! Billon and Petit ! 



26. H. gossypinus, Thunb. ; DC. Trod. i. 453. A much-branched 

 Undershrub, the rod-like erect branches densely clothed with rust-coloured 

 rigid hairs. Leaves on short stalks, broadly ovate, acute, subcordate or 

 wedge-shaped at the base, serrulate, downy on both surfaces. Stipules linear- 

 subulate. Inflorescence a terminal leafy pseudo-raceme ; pedicels longer 

 than the lanceolate floral leaves, densely covered with short reddish stiff 

 hairs, swollen below the flower and jointed above the middle. Epicalyx of 

 8-12, linear, ciliolate segments. Calyx hispid, deeply divided into 5 lan- 

 ceolate, 5-nerved segments, longer than the epicalyx. Corolla pink, twice 

 the size of the calyx. Capsule subglobose, obtuse ; valves smooth. Seeds 

 cottony.— H./t/scus, Gareke in Bot. Zeit. 1849, 854. 



Nile Land. Karague hills, Speke and Grant ! Abyssinia, Roth ! Plowden ! 

 Mozamb. Distr. Zambesia, Mnnganya hills, Bis. Melter and Kirk! 

 A handsome plant, extending into Natal and S. Africa; it is variable in the size and form 

 of its leaves and the colour of the corolla. 



27. H. micranthus, linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 453. An undershrub, with 

 long rod-like spreading branches, thinly covered with appressed, stellate, 

 bristle-like hairs. Petioles very short. Leaves about an inch long, oblong, 

 obtuse, wedge-shaped at the base, serrated, 3-nerved, rough with bristly 

 hairs. Peduncles longer than the leaves, jointed near the top ; flower half 

 a n inch in length. Epicalyx of 7-8, distinct, linear segments. Calyx bell- 

 sl'aped, 5-cleft ; its lobes triangular, longer than the epicalyx. Corolla ptnk, 

 twice the size of the calyx. Capsule ovoid, smooth, obtuse, three or four 



