LEAF FORMS OF VARIETIES OF HIBISCUS CANNABINUS. 



15 



been found on the Egyptian cotton in Arizona as low as the seventh 

 node, as reported by Mr. Argyle ]McLachhin. 



LEAF FORMS OF VARIETIES OF HIBISCUS CANNABINUS. 



At least two varieties of the Dcccan hemp are grown in Kgypt, 

 one with deei)ly divided, finely tootlied leaves (Pis. I and II) and 

 the other with more coarsely toothed, undivided leaves (figs. 1,2, 

 3, and 4). It does not appear that cither of these Egyptian varieties 

 has been introduced into the United States, but a third variety 

 wdth digitately parted leaf blades, not seen in Egypt but supposed 

 to come from India, has been grown experimentally in Louisiana. 

 (Figs. 5 and 6.) 



Fig. 4.— Simple-leaved Egyptian variety of Hibiscus cannabinus. (Natural size.) 



The variety w4th the dimorphic leaves is much more generally 

 planted in Egypt, but plants with broader, undivided leaves are 

 often found grow^mg with the others. At Tanta, to the north of 

 Cairo, separate plantings of the broad-leaved variety were seen. 

 The plants seemed larger, coarser, and of a darker green color than 

 those of the narrow-leaved type growing in the same locality. The 

 leaves are distinctly larger and with the margms much more coarsely 

 toothed. A tendency to the lobed form of leaf seemed to be indi- 

 cated in this variety only by the somewhat larger teeth at the ends 

 of the largest of the oblique veins. There may be a general corre- 

 lation between the shape of the leaf and the size of the margmal 

 teeth. The teeth seem to be larger in the undivided leaves of the 



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