Mibiscus. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA, 211 
of the cell, and valves, viz. from five to eight, with a single 
row of round, smooth seeds in each cell. 
This is one of the best, if not the best of the esculent herbs of 
India; the plant is easily raised from seed, and produces abun- 
dance of fruit, the only part which is eaten, The whole plant, 
particularly the capsules, is replete with much mild mucilage, 
which I consider as highly nourishing as well as mucilagi- 
nous, and might no doubt be employed to advantage in all 
diseases requiring emollients and demulcents. Some tender 
branches placed in water for examination soon rendered it 
gelatinous, almost as much so as if the branches of Pedalium 
murex had been standing in it. Dr. Cullen observes that — 
coughing is often caused by acrid vapour, rising from the 
Jungs irritating the glottis, and its neighbourhood ; that by 
besmearing these parts with demulcent matter, we often les- 
sen the irritation and frequency of coughing. A mild, palat- 
able, culinary preparation of the very young capsules of this 
plant, would, I think, stand as fair a chance to answer this 
intention as any thing | know, ‘and at the same time prove a 
nourishing part of the diet. 
The stigmas are replete with a very beautiful deep pur- 
ple juice, which they communicate to paper, and which is is to- 
lerably durable. 
H. eseulentus, the West India Okra possesses virtues near-. 
_ ly similar, through I believe inferior ; this I have also culti- 
vated for many years in the Botanic garden, and it differs 
from this very conspicuously, both in the shape of the leaves 
and capsules, 
35. H. tetraphyllus, R. 
- Annual, erect, ramous, hairy. Leaves palmate ; divisions 
Variously lobate, and acutely dentate. Stipules and bractes 
lanceolate, Flowers racemed, Exterior calyx foonlennee: : 
ae Capsules linear-oblong, hairy. rt 
A — eam annual species, of from four to five 
ee i, Af a2 
