Hibiscus. MALVACE^^. 237 



§ 4. Cells of the capsule viany -s ceded : seeds glabrous, or uilh a villous 

 dorsal line : leaves of the involucel 8-15, distinct, entire. — Abelmos- 

 chus, DC. 



4. H. CoUinsiana (Nutt. mss.) : lowest leaves obtusely 5-lobed ; upper 

 ones pedately 5-parted ; the lobes linear-oblanceolate, acuminate, coarsely 

 toothed ; petiole as long as the lamina ; tlowers on short pedudcles; leaves 

 of the involucel 10-12; calyx spathaceous, 5-toothed, cleft on one side. 



West Florida, Mr. Ware (fide Nutt.); Tampa Bay, Dr. Burroxcs ! — 

 Leaves 6-8 inches in diameter, sparsely hirsute; lowest ones angularly 

 5-lobed : upper ones parted nearly to the base ; the 3 middle lobes about 6 

 inches in length and about an inch wide, often incisely toothed, acuminate ; 

 lateral lobes much shorter: petioles hispid. Peduncles about J of an 

 inch long, and as well as the involucel and calyx hispid. Corolla as large as 

 in H. esculentus, yellow? (green in dried specimens.) Capsule not seen. — 

 Nearly allied to H. esculentus; but differs in its deeply divided leaves. Mr. 

 Nuttall informs us that he has seen the same species from Surinam. 



5. H. Moscheutos (Linn.) : leaves ovate, acuminate, serrate, often 3-lobed, 

 ■whitish-tomentose beneath, somewhat scabrous-pubescent above ; peduncles 

 (1-flowered) and petioles often united. — Cav. diss. 3. t. 65. f 1^2; Mich.r. ! 



fl. 2. p. 47 ; Bot. mag. t. 882 ; Pur.'ih.,fl. 2. p. 455; Ell. sk. 2. p. 165; DC. 

 prodr. \.p. 450; Hook.jl. Bor.-Am. I. p. 107. H. palustris, Liiin. ^ most 

 of the preceding authors. 



Borders of marshes, particularly near the salt water, Canada ! and 

 throughout the United States! Aug.-Sept. — It Stem 3-5-feet high, mi- 

 nutely tomentose. Leaves about 5 inches long and 3 wide, rather obtuse at 

 the base, with a long acumination, often with 3 short abruptly acuminate 

 lobes, velvety-tomcntose beneath. Peduncles axillary, 2 inches long, articu- 

 lated a little below the flower, often coalescing with the petiole to a conside- 

 rable distance above the base. Flowers as large as in the common Holly- 

 hock, rose-color, or sometimes nearly white, crimson at the centre. Petals 

 obovate, retuse. Stamineal column ^ the length of the petals. Styles ex- 

 serted. Capsule as large as in H. Syriacus. — From numerous observations, 

 we are convinced that H. Moscheutos and H. palustris are not distinct spe- 

 cies. It is not uncommon to find the peduncles and petioles both distinct 

 and united on the same specimen. 



6. H. incanus (Wendl.) : leaves ovate, acuminate, obtusely serrate, whi- 

 tish, velvety on both surfaces ; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered, often confluent 

 with the petiole at the base. — '• Wendl. hart. Herr. 4. t. 24 ;" Willd. sp. 3. 

 p. 807 ; Puri^h.fl. 2. p. 455 ; DC. prodr. l.p. 451. 



CaroUna, Willdenow ; Middle Florida, Dr. Chapman! Croom! Red 

 River, Louisiana, Dr. Hale ! — 2+ Stem tall, minutely tomentose. Leaves 

 often more or less cordate, not lobed, 4-6 inches long. Peduncles about as 

 long as the petioles, jointed near the middle. Flowers very large "sulphur- 

 yellow" ( ITt/W. and so they are in our dried specimens), purpUsh at the 

 centre. — Near the preceding species, but quite distinct. 



7. H. Carolinianus (^Muhl.) : leaves cordate, ovate, acuminate, glabrous 

 on both surfaces, sometmies slightly 3-lobed ; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered ; 

 seeds hispid. FAl.—Muhl. cat. p. 651; Ell. sk. 2. p. 168. 



Wilmington Island, Georgia, Elliott. — Stem 4-6 feet high, glabrous. 

 Leaves large (sometimes 6 inches long), obscurely 3-lobed when old ; veins 

 prominent on the under surface : petioles as long as the leaves. Peduncles 

 2-3 inches long, slightly adhering to the petiole. Involucel 12-leaved. Ca- 

 lyx somewhat scabrous. Petals purple, 4 inches long, glabrous outside, 

 pubescent within. Capsule nearly globose, hairy on the inside. Seeds 



