228 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



Hibiscus cannabinus, L. Syst. Nat. (1759) [1149]. 



Vem. N. : Ambari, 



Loc. : Jodhpur : On the edges of cotton fields (Erskine). 



Distrib. : Cultivated in most trop. countries. 



Uses: "The crop is cut in November or December, the yield being 

 about six cwfc. of clean fibre to the acre. The plants are tied up in 

 bundles, and in May or June, when ropes are required, are soaked 

 in water ; when sufliciently moistened, the bark is stripped ofi' and 

 the stems are used as fuel." (Erskine.) 



Gossypium L. 



Gossypium herbaceum, L. Spec. PI. (1753), 693, var. 

 Vem. N. : Kapas. 

 Loc. : Jodhpur : Near Badka (No. 5693 !), Balarwa (No. 5688 !). 



Jaisalmer: Amarsagar (No. 5692 !), Jaisalmer (No. 5691 !) 

 Fl. and fr. in October and November. 



Gossypium arboreum, L. Sp. PI. (1753) 693. 

 Loc. : Jaisalmer: Bap (No. 5d89 !). 

 Fl. in October. 

 Note : We have not been able to ascertain what species are under 



cultivation. Cotton is grown chiefly in Bali, Desuri, Bilara, Mallani, 



and Merta (aU in Jodhpur State). 



Sterculiace^. 



Melhania Forsk. 



Melhania denhami, R. Br. in Denh. and Clapp. Trav. (1826) App. 232. 

 Loc: Kotda near Seu (No. 2952!), Barmer, rocks (Nos. 7293!, 



7291 ! ), Jaisalmer : Vinjorai, dunes (No. 7289 ! ), Loharki(Nos. 7288 !, 



7287!, 7290!, 7292!, 7294!). 

 Distrib : Rajpntana, Sind, Baluchistan, Arabia, Trop. Africa. 

 Fl. and fr. in November. 



Melhania tomentosa. Stocks, var. maior var. nov. Folia 10 cm. atting- 

 entia, petiolus 22 mm. longus. 

 Loc. : Jodhpur : Barmer, rocks (Nos. 7286 ! , 7295 ! , 7296 ! ). 

 Distrib. : Gujarat, Rajputana, Punjab, Sind. 

 FL and fr. in November. 



Melhania magni/olia, spec. nov. 



FrutbX humilis. Caulis ramique tomentoso-canescentes. Folia ovato- 

 oblonga vel ovato-lanceolata, apice obtusa vel subacuta, vel acuta, 

 dense et molliter tomentosa, facie ventrali virescentia, dorsali albida, 

 margine irregulariter crenato vel dentato-crenato, vel dentato, basi 

 cordata 7-nervata, usque ad 11 cm. longa, 5 cm. lata. Petiolus 

 tomentosus, colore faciei inferioris foliorum, 30 mm. attingens. 

 Stipulae subulatte, tomentosse, 12 mm. longiB, cadnc09. 



Pedunculi axillares vel terminales, cinereo-tomentosi, 5 cm. attin- 

 gentes, recti, 5-1-flori Pedicelli fortes, 13 mm. attingentes. Brac- 

 teolae 3, persistentes, cordatse. late ovatse, acuminatse, dense 

 cinereo-tomentosse facie dorsali et ventrali, sepalis subbreviores vel 

 iis sequilongse, 20 mm. longae, 10 mm. latse. Calyx 5-partitus ; 

 sepala lanceolata, cuspidata, dense tomentoso-villosa. Corolla 

 anrantiaco-flava, sepalis tertio (^) longior, circa 24 mm. longa. 



Capsula subglobosa, 15 mm. diametro, dense tomentosa, calyce sub- 

 brevior. 



Loc. : Jodhpur: Kailana (Nos. 7285 !, 7279 ! ), Osian (No. 7280 I ). 



