y^-;' 



307 



• 



stigma capitately stijrmatoso: capaul*' comixjued of 4 or 5 carpels, loenliculally 

 dehiscent, exteruallv iii(;tuo-|>iiliesc(int, Jihout J: iiu'li liijih. shorter tluiii tlif calyx: 

 carpels ^-ovuled, nmticons : seeds bla(;lv, sparsely pubescent. Tliis plant 

 aiiiiroaches tlie genus llaHtardut in the structure of its fruit, there being I or 5 

 carpels which are entirely iiiutieons and united so as to form a loculieidally 

 dehiscing eajtsule. 



Abutilon mcanum (Link) Sweet, llort. lirit. oS (1S27); Skhi invana Link, Enum. 

 riant, ii. 201 (1822), ^f(?(' liaker. Armeria, February 15, 1891. No. 1281. Agia- 

 bampo, October 3 to 15, 1890. >;o. 708. 



Dr. Palmer writes as follows of this i)]ant: " The natives call this plant ' Tro- 

 nadora,' which signilies p()]i]»inn-of the lc.it. It grows about 8 feet high, actiuir- 

 ing the greatest perfection upon rich bottom lands. It yields a strong, durable 

 liber, whieli the Zotlahnacar Indians, who live 40 miles southeast of Mauzanillo, 

 utilize in making haunuoeks, rojics, and carr>ing-nets, whieli are so durable that 

 they last from seven to ten years when iu constant use." 



According to Dr. Palmer, the liber is ])reparedas follows: " When the plant is . 

 tnature, the lateral biauches are cut away and the stt-msareburied in the mud at 

 the edge ofLakeAlcn/agua( Lake <d' the Devil). Three to four days afterward the 

 plants are removed and washed, iind arc liien leady for the stripping of the ijiner 

 bark or iiber. This is done in the following manner: The worknum, standing 

 upright, with tln^stem which rests firndy upon the ground iu his left hand, presses 

 the right thumb iirndy upon the stick. an<l taking the tibor between the hngers, 

 he ijulls steadily. bcn<ling giiidually to the work until lie falls upon his knees. 

 When the liber is removed the stem rebounds and dies over the shoulder of the 

 operator, striitjjed of lialf its hark. This seems a very slow ])roeess, but jnte was 

 i'oruu'rly (deaned as slowly, and it was only alter many and re])eate(l trials that 

 machinery was perfected to ]ierform this tediouswork. Probably this, like jute, 

 if allowed to die before cutting, would become brittle, and fit only for paper 

 in;iuufacturo; therefore, in more iioithern Jatitn<les it maybe best to cut the 

 ])lauts befori; frost. ljX]ieriments will be necessary to ascertain the jiroper time 

 for cutting, the length of time it should be immersed, if water will accomplish 

 the same result ;is mud, rendciring th(^ bark soft and pliable." 



Abutilon triquetrnm i'resl, Keli^i . Haenk. ii. 115 ( ISI^O), jide liaker. Along rich hot 

 (oms. Agiabauijio, October o to 1.5, 1889. No. 810. 



Abutilon sp. (.'olima, fcibrunry 27 and 28, 18i»l. No. 1314. 



Malachra radiata L. Syst. Veg. 518 (17()7); Sidu capUuta L. Sp. PI. ii. 085 (1753). 

 Manzanilli!. December 1 to 31, 1890. No. 958. 



Malachra capitata L. Syst. Veg. 518 (1767) ; Slda radiaiah. Sp. PI. ed. 2. ii. 965 (1763). 

 Manzanillo, December 1 to 31, 1890. No. 962. 



MalvaviscuB arboreiis ( ':iv. Diss. iii. 131, t. 18, f. 1 (1787), Jide Haker. A very showy 

 shrub, 10 to 12 feet high : leaves 3 to 6 imdies long (])etioles 2 to 4 in<die8 hmg), 

 ovate, sometimea subtrilobate, crenate, slightly cordate or trun<'ate at base. 

 The fruit, which is edible, is at first red, but becomes yellow when mature. The 

 shrub is called •■ Monacillo," while the fruit is known as " Manzanita." Mau- 

 zanillo, l)ecenib(r 1 to 31, 1890. No. 963. 



"This jdaut certainly does not agree with Cavanille's description of arhorens 

 where the leavi^s arc^ described as '3-5-lobis,' but I think it comes near this spe- 

 cies." K. G. Baker in lit, 



Kostelet2kya asterocarpa Turcz. lUill. Soc. Mos, x\xi, pt. 1. 191 (1858), Jide Haker. 

 Branches slender, hi8])id with spreading hairs or stellate-pubescent: leaves nar- 

 rowly lanceolate to linear, serrate, ai^iite, 14 to 4 inches long, stellate vinbesccnt, 

 truncate at base or with one or two auricles ov lobes; ])eti(des 3 to 6 lines long: 

 peduncle 10 to 20 lines long: tiowers small, yellow: involucre of 8 to 9 filiform 

 bi'actlets shorter than the calyx: sepals 2 lines hmg, obtuse: ca])snle 5-celled, 

 hisjiid on the angles. ( 'dllected fVoiii a g;irden at Man/.anillo. March 2 to 18, 1891. 

 No, 1362. 



