210 xxv. MALVACEAE (mastebs). [Thespesia. 



pointed, much more conspicuous in the bud than in the flower. Corolla 

 three or four times larger than the calyx. Style with 5 spiral groves.— 

 Hibiscus Lampas,Cav.; DC. Prod. i. 447; Wight and Amott, Prod. PI. 

 Ind. i. 48. 



Mozamb. Distr. Zambesi, Drs. Kirk and Meller ! 



In the absence of fruiting specimens, it is not quite certain that Dr. Kirk's plants really 

 belong to this common ludiau species. In India, the fruit is an ovate pointed capsule 

 dividing into 5 woody downy valves three or four times exceeding the calyx, and contains 

 shining black seeds. The inflorescence in the Indian form is more branched than in the 

 African. Dr. Meller also found on the Rovuma river some specimens which are here pro- 

 visionally retained until further evidence shows whether they constitute a variety of x. 

 Lampas, or a distinct species. Dr. Meller's plants have large, roundish lobed leaves, the 

 lobes roundish, rough on both surfaces, 1-flowered, jointed peduucles, and an epicalyx of 5 

 falcate deciduous segments shorter than the calyx ; the stigma is spirally grooved. The 

 plant resembles Hibiscus ferruyineus, Cav., a native of Madagascar, in its leaves. 



14. GOSSYPITJM, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 209. 



Epicalyx of 3 large cordate bractlets. Calyx entire or slightly 5-lobed. 

 Staminal column bearing anthers at the upper part only. Ovary 5-celled; 

 ovules oo. Pruit capsular, loculicidally dehiscent. Seeds densely woolly, 

 free or slightly coherent. — Herbs or shrubs with lobed leaves and yellow or 

 purple flowers, the bractlets, calyx, and folded cotyledons sprinkled with 

 black dots. 



The species of this- important genus have been cultivated so widely in all the warmer 

 regions of the globe, and for so long a time, that there is a large number of varieties 

 looked upon by some authors as species ; but, however desirable it may be for cultural or 

 commercial purposes to give these numerous forms distinct names, in a work of this cha- 

 racter, it appears preferable to retain merely those species concerning which there is little 

 or no difference of opinion among botanists. To adopt any other course would almost 

 necessitate the raising of each individual specimen in the herbarium to the rank of a 

 species. 



Cotton easily separable from the seeds. Seeds naked after the removal 



of the wool 1.0. Barbadense. 



Cotton not readily separable. Seeds often with a dense coating of 

 felted hair beneath the cotton. 



Bractlets of epicalyx linear, entire 2. G. anomalum. 



Bractlets of epicalyx broad, more or less toothed, rarely entire. ' 

 Lobes of leaf oblong, narrowed at the base, often with a supple- 

 mentary lobe in the sinus. Flowers purple 3. G. arboreum. 



Lobes of leaf ovate, broad, without supplementary lobes. Flowers 



yellow 4 q herbaceum. 



1. G. Barbadense, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 456. A small shrub with 

 smooth, purplish, somewhat angular branches sprinkled with black dots. 

 Leaves stalked, 1-glandulose, deeply palmately 3-5-lobed ; lobes oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate ; upper leaves cordate, sometimes entire or waved at 

 the margin ; stalks for the most part as long as the blades. Stipules falcate, 

 persistent. Peduncles angular, 1-flowered, shorter than the petioles. Epi- 

 culyx of 3 large, cordate, acute, deeply laciniate segments, the central one 

 longer than the others. Corolla yellow. Ripe capsule 1-2 in. long, ovate, 

 glabrous ; valves woody, mucronate. Seeds free or combined, covered with 



