Tas. 6524. 
HIBISCUS SCHIZOPETALUS. 
Native of Eastern Tropical Africa. 
Nat. Ord. MatvacEem.—Tribe H1Biscex. 
Genus Hiziscus, Linn.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. i. p. 207.) 
Hrstscus schizopetalus ; glaber, fruticosus, foliis petiolatis ovatis ellipticisve acutis 
grosse serratis basin versus integerrimis 3-nerviis, floribus solitariis longe 
pedunculatis pendulis pedunculo medio articulato, involucello0 v. minimo, calyce 
cylindraceo spathaceo apice obtuse 3-lobo demum fisso, petalis amplis longe 
unguiculatis flabellatim multifidis lobis linearibus obtusis, tubo stamineo lon- 
gissimo pendulo, antheris sparsis longe stipitatis, styli ramis 5 filiformibus ascen- 
dentibus, stigmatibus globosis, capsula basi calyce spathaceo inclusa oblongo- 
cylindracea obtusa obscure 5-loba torulosa, seminibus brunneis glabris. 
H. Rosa Sinensis var. schizopetalus, Masters in Gard. Chron. 1879, p. 288 ; 
Boulger, l. ce. p. 372. 
Hisiscus sp. Kirk and Oliver in Journ Linn. Soe. vol. xv. p. 478. 
This singular and beautiful plant has attracted much 
attention, on account both of its horticultural and botanical 
interest ; differing as it does from all other species in the 
remarkable character of its petals, and yet presenting so 
many points of resemblance to a world-wide garden 
favourite whose native country is unknown (the H. fiosa 
Sinensis), as to have suggested its specific identity with 
that plant. The differences, however, between this and 
H. Rosa Sinensis are a great deal too many and too impor- 
tant to render the idea of this being a sport or variety 
of that plant tenable. They are, firstly, the petals, which, 
however, might have originated as a sport; then the 
pendulous flower, the suppression of the epicalyx, the 
longer tubular calyx with obtuse lobes; above all, the 
long fruit with small smooth seeds. I have examined 
specimens of H. Rosa Sinensis from thirty different localities, 
and found none approaching BR. schizopetalus in any of the 
above characters. Too much importance should not be 
attributed to the supposition that the native country of 
NOVEMBER Ist, 1880. 
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