Tab. 4329. 
HIBISCUS GROSSULARI.^POLIUS. 
Gooseberry-leaved Hibiscus. 
Nat. Ord. jMalvace^.—Monadelphia Polyandria. 
Gen. Char. Calyx cinctus involucello ssepius polyphyllo, rarius foliolis paucis 
aixt inter se coalitis. Petala hinc non auriculata. Stigmata 5. Carpella in 
capsulam 5-locularem coalita, valvis intus medio septiferis, Idculis polyspermis 
aut rarius monospermis. DC. 
iriBiscus (Bombicella) grosmlaricefolim ; fruticosus erectus pilis stellatis paten- 
tibus pubescens, foliis petiolatis cordatis i3-5-lobis, lobis obovatis obtusis 
sinuato-lobatis, pedunculis axillaribus solitariis unifloris, supra medium 
articulatis bracteatis, inyolucri monopliylli 10-12-partiti laciniis lineari- 
subulatis, calycis laciniis laneeolato-acuminatis, stylo exserto, stigmate 
5-radiato. 
Hibiscus grossulariaefolius. Miquel, in Plant. Preiss. p. 240. 
I cannot assert with certainty that this is the H. yrossulariafolius 
of Miquel, for it does not in all respects accord with the descrip¬ 
tion : neither in our recent or dried specimens can it be said of 
our plant, totus /z<f^e 5 ee;?^t-stellato-tomentosus nor can the 
leaf-stalks or peduncles be considered “ short ”, nor the involucre 
8- (but 10-12-) fid; and the stigma is not capitate, but dilated 
and lobed. Still the general characteristics are so similar that 
the differences may be accounted for on the supposition that the 
able Miquel described from an imperfect dried specimen of Preiss. 
I run the risk of retaining the name, rather than load the system 
with needless synonyms. Australia does not seem eminently 
rich in species of Hibiscus ; but some of them are eminently 
beautiful; and the present one is no exception. It was raised 
in the Royal Gardens of Kew from Swan-River seeds, sent 
by Mr. Drummond, and has this character to recommend 
it, that in the summer, if planted against a wall, it makes a 
beautiful open border plant, flowering frequently during the 
summer months. 
Descs. a shrub three to four feet high; branches terete, 
younger ones, leaves, and calyx (the latter more copiously) 
OCTOBER 1st, 1847. 
