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3 5 83 
Hipsiscus Syriacus. SYRIAN Hisiscus;_ 
commonly called ALTH#ZA FRUTEX. 
is Clafs and Order.. | 
MonADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Charaéer. | 
Calyx duplex, exterior polyphyllus. Cap/ula 5-locularis, po- 
lyfperma. . | 
Specific Charafer and Synonyms. 
HIBISCUS /jriacus foliis cuneiformi ovatis fuperne incifo- 
ferratis, caule arboreo. Linn. Sy/t. Veg. p. 630- 
ALCEA arborefcens fyriaca. Baub. Pin. p- 316. 
ALTH ZA frutex flore albo vel purpureo. Park. Par. p. 369- 
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The Hibifcus fyriacus, known generally by the name of ; 
Althea frutex; is a native of Syria, and forms one of the chief : 
ornaments of our gardens in autumn; we view it, however, 
_ with lefs delight, as it is a fure indication of approaching winter. _ 
There are many varieties of it mentioned by authors, as the | 
purple, red-flowered, white-flowered, variegated red and white : 
flowered, and the firiped-flowered, to which may be added, ano- 
ther variety, lately introduced, with double flowers: it varies — 
alfo in its folrage, which is fometimes marked with white, — 
fometimes with yellow. 3 | 
As from the latenefs of its flowering, and the want of fuf- 
ficient warmth, it rarely ripens its feeds with us; the ufual 
mode of increafing it is by layers, and fometimes by cuttings; 
but the beft plants are raifed from feeds. Muitzer obferves, 
that the fcarce varieties may be propagated by grafting them 
on each other, which is the common method of propagating — 
- the forts with ftriped leaves. a 
In the time of Parkinson it was not looked on as 3— 
hardy fhrub: he thus writes,—‘ they are fomewhat tendet 
-* and would not be fuffered to be uncovered in the wintet 
** time, or yet abroad in the garden, but kept in a large pot 
“ or tubbe, in the houfe or in a warme cellar, if you woul 
** have them to thrive.” Park, Parad. 
_ 
