THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 107 



])ccn "holy hock" hecaiise first hrou^dit from the 1 loly T.and 

 hv reuirning crusaders, "hock" being an old name fc-r mallow . 

 Far more partial to wet grounds than the marsh mallow 

 are the various species of / lihiscus. Though occasionally 

 called "marsh mallows," they are more often known as "rose' 

 mallows." It must he admitted, however, that they have a 

 \erv ancient claim to being "marsli mallows" for Dioscorides- 

 called them so more than 2500 years ago. The commonest 

 species is probabh- the "swamp rose mallow" {Hibiscus iiios- 

 cJiciitos) a tall i)lant with large rosy flowers that delights 

 in standing water. Its other names, "swamp mallow." 

 "water mallow," "marsli mallow," "sea hollyhock," and 

 "mallow rose" are readily intelligible. It is often common 

 along the Atlantic coast and with it grows an almost identi- 

 cal plant ( hi . ociilirosciis) with the exception that the flowers 

 are white witli a crimson eye. For a long time it was re- 

 garded as an abino form and its common names still indi- 



o 



cate the fact for it is known as the "crimson-eyed rose mal- 

 low," and "white rose mallow." "White hibiscus" appears- 

 to be a recent ap[)ellation. The "halberd-leaved rose m.allow" 

 (//. iiiilitaris) . otherwise known ;is the "halbered leaved mal- 

 low" and "sweating-weed" is a third form that delights in 

 wet places. 



Two other species classed with the rose malknvs are //. 

 Syriiuits, the shrubby plant comnionlv called "rose-of Shar- 

 on," and a diminutive relation, //. trioiiiini known as "flower- 

 of-an-hour." One sometimes wonders how this insignifi- 

 cant weed and an almost tree-like species happened to get in- 

 to the same genus. I lihiscus Syriacus is also known . as 

 "shrubby althaea" and "tree hibiscus." Iti some respects its 

 diminutive ally ( //. triouum) is a remarkable plant. It is 

 a rank looking weed, but with rather large flowers that 

 might redeem it were it not for the fact that thev are e.\- 



