THE DICOTYLEDOXES 



1797 



Plagianthus betuliniis, a native of New Zealand, is used for timber 

 under the name of Ribbonwood; other species, and especially Plagianthus 

 [Hoheria) lyalli (Fig. 1691), the Lacebark, are common cultivated shrubs 

 or small trees in this country. 



Fig. 1 69 1. — Hoheria lyalli. Flowering shoot. 



In the Ureneae, the three genera mentioned all exhibit interesting 

 features. Urena itself contains three tropical species. The fruit is a schizo- 

 carp in which the individual segments are provided with hooks. U. lobafa 

 is of commercial importance on account of its fibres. In Brazil it is used in 

 the preparation of the bags required to hold the locally produced coffee. 

 It is also cultivated for its fibres in Africa and India. U. simiilata is culti- 

 vated in northern Nigeria for making rope. 



The genus Goethea is represented by two Brazilian species. The flowers 

 are brightly coloured, as is also the epicalyx, and the flower buds may 

 remain for years in a dormant state so that flow^ers may appear to be pro- 

 duced on the old wood of stem and branches. The genus Hibiscus is a 

 large one with about 160 tropical and subtropical species. H. sinensis is 

 cultivated in gardens all over the world. The flowers vary in colour from 

 yellow to white and red, and a number of varieties have been recognized 

 as garden forms. Structurally the flowers are interesting because the 

 five antisepalous stamens are represented by teeth at the top of the stamen 

 tube. The fruit is a loculicidal capsule. A number of species are of 

 economic importance; H. esculentus, which is known locally as Okra, 

 produces fruits which, when young, are mucilaginous and usedasavege 

 table in soup. This and a number of other species yield jute-like fibres 



