Malvacee | THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 83 
22. MALVACEZ. 
The relation of this order, with those which follow, as Bombacee, Byttneriacee, and 
Tiliacee, is so considerable, as to have induced Mr. Brown to recommend their being 
included in one natural class, of which thé orders appeared as nearly related as the dif- 
ferent sections of Rosacee are to éach other. On this occasion Mr. Brown made. the 
valuable remark, which, though followed up by several celebrated botanists, is to be 
regretted has not yet become universally adopted as a law. ‘In both these, as well as 
in several other casés that might be mentioned, there seems to be a necessity for the 
establishment of natural classes, to which proper names, derived from the orders best 
known, and differing, perhaps, in termination, might be given.” The Malvaceg 
occurring within the tropics, both in the New and the Old World, both as trees and 
herbs, and only in the latter state in the temperate zone, are found in considerable 
quantities in- every part of the plains of India, but a few species only on the slope of the 
Himalaya. These belong to the same genera as the European Malvaceae. Althea rosea 
and a species of Zavatera have been brought me from Cashmere: the former most 
likely cultivated, as it is every where, in the gardens of India. Malva sylvestris and 
rotundifolia occur in the same localities. The latter is also found, both on the northern 
and southern face of the Himalaya, as well as in the plains of India; but in the latter 
situation, only during the months which constitute the winter, both of Europe and of the 
Himalayas; but in the mountains, it is found only during the summer months, which 
in the plains are so hot, as to scorch every thing requiring a moderate temperature. 
Both plants and seeds of Hibiscus Trionum have been brought me from Cashmere, and 
grown in the botanic garden at Saharunpore, and the wild specimens now deposited 
in the Museum of the Linnean Society scarcely differ from the plant found in European 
gardens. The genera of which species are found in the plains and peninsula of India, 
are Sida, Pavonia, Thespesia, Lebretonia, Hibiscus, Abelmoschus, and Urena, which are 
also common to America; together with Gossypium, found commonly in a cultivated 
state, and Lagune@a, which is common to India and Africa. Many of the same 
species of some of these genera extend from the peninsula to the most northern parts, 
as Hibiscus rigidus, Surattensis and crotonifolia, to the neighbourhood of Delhi; the last 
constituting the new genus Decaschistia of Dr.Wight and Mr. Arnott. Sida humilis, 
cordifolia, populifolia, and graveolens, are found every where in the plains; while 
Urena repanda, Hibiscus Lampas, Abelmoschus moschatus, and cancellatus, extend along 
the foot of the Himalaya, with the jungle and forest, as far north as the banks of 
the Jumna in 31° of latitude. In such situations only, and in the vallies near the 
plains, have I seen any of the above-mentioned Indian Malvacee ; they are therefore 
most probably found in the same situations in Nepal and Kemaon. Many of the 
species, however, from the south, succeed remarkably well as far north as Saharunpore; 
as Hibiscus macrophyllus, populneoides, and others, with the usual garden species; among 
these some American species, as Hibiscus Sabdariffa, may be mentioned as quite at 
home in every part of India. 
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