57 



*ABUTILON vitifolium. 



Vine-leaved Ahutilon. 



MONADELPHIA FOLYANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Malvace^. 



ABUTILON, Gtertn. Involucellum nullum. Cahjx quinquefidus, 

 saepius cupulseformis, laciniis sestivatione valvatis. CoroUce petala 5, hypo- 

 gyna, obovata, seepius insequilatera, unguibus imo tubo stamineo adnata, 

 sestivatione convolutiva. Tubus stamineus basi dilatata fornicata ovarium 

 obtegens, superne angustatus, columuseformis, apice in filamcnta plurima, 

 filiformia divisus, rarius simul infra apicem anttierifer ; anthercE reniformes, 

 sinu affixse, versatiles, rima semicirculari apertse, bivalves, septo manifesto. 

 Ovarium sessile, quinque-multilociilare. Ovula in loculis 4-9, angulo centrali 

 inserta, adscendentia et pendula. Styli loculorum numero, filiformis, basi 

 plus minus coaliti; stigmata capitata. Capsula penta-polycocca, coccis baud 

 secedentibus, apice introrsum rima apertis. Semina in loculis pauca v. abortu 

 solitaria, reniformia v. subhippocrepica, testa Crustacea, emarginaturse sinu 

 umbilicata. Embryo intra albumen parcum, subcarnosum homotrope ar- 

 cuatus ; catyledonibus foliaceis, petiolulatis, basi auriculatis, sese plicato-in- 



volventibus. Herbee, suffrutices v. frutices, nonnullce arbores, in regionibus 



tropicis et subtropicis totius orbis crescentes ; foliis alternis, petiolatis, cordatis 

 dentatis, v. rarissime obsolete lobatis, stipulis lateralibus geminis, peduriculis 

 axillaribus, sobtariis v. pluribus, uni-midtijloris, infra apicem articulatis, inter- 

 dum floribus spicatis v. racemosis, rarissime corymbosis. — Endl. gen. 5292. 



A. vitifolium; foliis cordatis o-7-lobatis lobis acuminatis serratis, pedunculis 

 petiolo longioribus ramoso-umbellatis, carpellis 9 apice longe biaris- 

 idX\8.—DeCand. Prodr. 1. 472. sub Sida. 



Abutilon vitifolium, Presl. reliq. Hcenk. 2. 116. 



Sida vitifolia, Cav. ic. 5. 428. 



This fine Malvaceous plant is a native of Chili, whence 

 it appears to have been introduced about the year 1836, by 

 Captain Cottingham of Dublin. It was noticed in this work 

 in July 1840, when it was stated that it had proved quite 

 hardy in Ireland, having stood in a south border, without 

 protection for three years. Under such circumstances it 

 must be a noble looking shrub, for it is said to maintain a 

 stature of six feet, and to become one mass of blossom. 



November, 1844. 2 a 



