FLORA VITIENSIS. 17 
Var. flore pleno.—Common in all the islands just recorded. 
The natives are very fond of this plant; they have it frequently in their gardens, and often decorate 
their persons with its flowers. In some parts of the tropics it is called “the Shoe-black plant,” because 
its astringent petals are used for blacking shoes; the Chinese, it is well known, dye their eyebrows 
with them. If truly indigenous to the South Sea,H. Rosa-sinensis forms one of the few exceptions of 
double-flower-producing plants belonging to the Southern hemisphere, about which see the ‘Journal of 
Botany’ (1864), vol. ii. pp. 176, 318. 
2. H. (Ketmia) Storckii, Seem. in Bonplandia, vol. ix. p. 254. sp. nov. (Tab. IV.) ; fruti- 
cosus, inermis; foliis ellipticis v. ovato-ellipticis acuminatis integerrimis v. versus apicem serratis 
3-nerviis utrinque glabris; petiolis pedunculis bracteolis calycibusque puberulis; bracteolis 10 line- 
aribus acutis, laciniis calycis ovato-triangularibus acutis; petalis obovatis (roseis) extus puberulis, 
ovario apice glanduloso-puberulo.—Nomen vernac. * Sequelu."— Somosomo, Island of Taviuni (See- 
mann! n. 23), growing as underwood like the allied H. Genevii, Bojer; rare. 
This is closely allied to H. Rosa-sinensis, but I think sufficiently distinct to entitle it to the rank of 
Species. Unfortunately my specimens are not so complete as could be wished, and so prevent a thorough 
comparison with its nearest all. I have never seen it cultivated; it is a more straggling shrub than 
H. Rosa-sinensis. The leaves are always more elliptical and less dee ly cut on the margin, the segments 
of the calyx are also somewhat differently shaped, and I have never observed a variety of H. Rosa-sinensis 
with such fine pink-coloured petals. I have named it in honour of my able assistant, Mr. J. Storck, who 
was with me when we first found it. 
Prare IV., Fig. 1, bracts and calyx; 2, ovary, with style cut off; 3 and 4, sections of ovary,—all 
slightly magnified. 
3. H. (Abelmoschus) diversifolius, Jacq. Icon. var. vol. iii. t.551; DC. Prodr. vol. i. p. 449; 
caule fruticoso petiolisque aculeatis; foliis 3—5-lobis obtusis dentatis, superioribus oblongo-lan- 
ceolatis indivisis; pedicellis brevibus inermibus pilosissimis; bracteolis 9, petalis flavis fundo atro- 
violaceo.—H. ficulneus, Cav. Diss. vol. iii. t. 51. fig. 2. Nomen vernac. “ Kalauaisoni” v. “ Kalaka- 
lauaisoni."—Very generally on the coast and in marshes (Seemann! n. 21; U. S. Expl. Exped.). 
Also found in Norfolk Island (Backhouse!), Isle of Pines (Milne!), Congo (Chr. Smith !), Mada- 
gascar (Thompson !), and the East Indies. 
The native physicians use the juice of the leaves to procure abortion. The fibre of stem and branches 
is used to a limited extent for cordage. 
4. H. (Abelmoschus) esculentus, Linn. Spec. 980; Cav. Diss. vol. iii. t. 61. fig. 2; fruti- 
cosus, inermis; foliis cordatis 5-lobis obtusiusculis dentatis; petiolis flore longioribus ; bracteolis 10 
deciduis; calycibus longitudinaliter rumpentibus; fructu pyramidato sulcato.—D (C. Prodr. vol. i. 
p. 450. Abelmoschus esculentus, Wight et Arn. Fl. Ind. Or. p. 53. Nomina vernac. “ Bele” v. 
* Vauvau ni Viti."— Cultivated throughout Viti (Seemann! n. 18). 
The fruit of this plant is known in the tropies under the names of Ochro, Gombo, Gobbo, Bandikai, 
Naju, etc.; it is a favourite ingredient in soup, which it thickens by its mucilaginous quality. But the 
Vitians plant it solely for its leaves, which are used as a potherb. Plots of more or less extent are seen 
about every village. The plants, from being always deprived of their leaves, become 4-6 feet high. 
5. H. (Abelmoschus) Abelmoschus, Linn. Spec. 980; fruticosus, inermis; caule hispido ; 
folis subpeltato-cordatis 7-angularibus acuminatis serratis; pedicellis petiolo longioribus; brac- 
teis 8-9; capsula setosa; seminibus moschatis.—DC. Prodr. vol. i. p. 452; Cav. Diss. vol. iii. 
t. 62. fig. 2; Parkins. Drawings of Tahit. Pl. t. 64 (ined.). H. pseudo-Abelmoschus, Bl. Bijdr. 
p.70. Abelmoschus moschatus, Mench. Meth. p. 616; Wight et Arn. Fl. Pen. Or. vol. i. p. 53. 
Nomina vernac. * Wakiwaki v. (teste Storck) Vakeke."—Grows on dry ground; rather common 
throughout the group (Seemann ! n. 19; Storck! n. 869). Also collected in Aneitum (Milne !), in the 
Society (Banks and Solander!) and Tongan (Barclay !), Samoan (U. S. Expl. Exped.) and Philip. 
pine Islands (U. S. Expl. Exped.). Common in the East Indies and tropical America, 
The juice of the leaves is used by the native physicians to procure abortion. 
