HIBISCUS COCCINEUS. AMERICAN SCARLET ROSE-MALLOW. 3 



bird and the plant which thus dwelt together. The specific 

 name, coccincus, signifies " of a scarlet color," and needs no 

 argument to explain it. 



In most European works our species is called Hibisciis spe- 

 ciosus, under which name it is figured in the tenth volume of 

 Curtis's " Botanical Magazine," and described by Aiton in 

 " Hortus Kewensis." Torrey and Gray have, however, shown 

 that the name H. coccineus, as given by T. Walter, who in 1788 

 published the " Flora Caroliniana," existed prior to H. spcciosus, 

 and in botanical nomenclature priority rules. Walter's name is 

 therefore in universal use by the American botanists of our 

 time. 



Hibiscus coccincus is probably the most gorgeous of all the 

 plants indigenous to the United States. It is very little inferior 

 in the brilliant show it makes to the celebrated Chinese Rose 

 Hibiscus, not uncommon in our green-houses. Curtis was par- 

 ticularly struck by its gay appearance, and in the volume above 

 referred to he says : " Those who ' admire nature's clocks more 

 than her watches' will view, we presume, with some pleasure 

 our representation of this very superior species of Hibiscus, a 

 native of North Carolina, and cultivated here by Dr. John Foth- 

 ergill in 17S8." It is probable, however, that the plant was 

 introduced into England some time before the date just men- 

 tioned, for in a letter by Peter Collinson to Wm. Bartram, 

 dated Feb. 16, 176S, and published in Darlington's "Memorials," 

 we read: "The crimson Hibiscus is a charming flower. I could 

 have no perfect idea of it but from thy elegant painting. Pray 

 desire thy father (John Bartram) to spare no pains to get us 

 seeds from Charleston, where I dare say it ripens seeds." 



Like many other plants which are naturally found in swampy 

 places, the Hibiscus coccincus not only does not object to, but 

 indeed rather enjoys a transfer to drier locations. In the para- 

 graph from the " Botanical Magazine," we have read that it 

 grew in English gardens in the last century, although it does 

 not seem to be common there now. The writer of this has seen 



