68 IHALAMIFLOU^. 



ones 3-lobate wedge-shaped at the base, flowers sessile, 

 involucellum moiiophyllous 12-toothed. 



Sivartz, 06^.269. — Cav. diss. III. t. 198. f. 1 De Catid. 



Prod. I. 453. 



HAB. Cultivated. 



FL. Autumn. 



A suttVuticose hei-baceous plant. The stem, branches, 

 petioles, and nerves of the leaves, as also the peduncles and ex- 

 ternal floral coverings, are of a blood-red colour. All parts of 

 the plant are more or less acid to the taste. The Calyces and 

 involucella are thick and leathery or fleshy, and form, vj^hen 

 boiled with sugar, an agreeable acidulated conserve ; or they 

 may be made into tarts. An infusion also may be prepared 

 from them, known by the name of Sorrel-drink, forming a re- 

 freshing beverage. Hernandez states that two drachms of the 

 root act as a gentle laxative. The fibres of the stem may be 

 made into cordage. 



7. Hibiscus elatiis. Mountain Mahoe. 

 Leaves roundish-cordate very entire hoary-pubescent 

 beneath, peduncles short 1 -flowered. 



Malva arborea folio rotundo, Sloane, I. 95. t. 134. f. 2 and 3. 

 — Hibiscus arboreus, Browne, 284. — H. elatus, Swartz, FL 

 hid. Occ. 1218. 



HAB. Lower hills, and plains in the interior of the Island. 



FL. January — March. 



A lofty tree, 50-60 feet in height, with the bark smooth, 

 and branches spreading. Leaves roundish, cordate, abruptly 

 acuminate, 5— 7-nerved, minutely and distantly stellato-puberu- 

 lous above, hoary and tomentulose beneath: petioles elongated: 

 a glandulose linear slit near the base of the mid-rib of the older 

 and larger leaves. Stipules large, amplexicaul at the base, 

 oblongo-ovate, acute, puberulous, deciduous. Peduncles axil- 

 lary, solitary, 1 -flowered. Flowers large, of a purplish saffron 

 colour. Involucellum 10-fid ; divisions erect, acute. Calyx an 

 inch in length, 5-partite for more than half the length. Petals 

 nearly 3 inches in length, oblong, oblique, rounded at the apex, 

 thickish and somewhat leathery, longitudinally veined, minutely 

 stellato-puberulous. Column of the stamens of the same length 

 as the petals, 5-grooved, subquinquedentate at the apex : anthers 

 yellow, on short capillary pedicels, arranged along the angles of 

 the column, leaving only about an inch at the base vacant. 

 Ovary rotundo-conical, 5-sided, sericeo-pubescent: style in- 

 crassated towards the stigmata, which are 5, of a deep purple 

 colour, and pubescent with capitate hairs. Capsule globular, 

 t;omentose, 5-celled, 5-valved. 



This is a lofty tree with a straight stem, and affords a 



