Hibiscus. MONADELFHIA POLYANDRIA. 209 



serrate ; the inferior cordate ; towards the middle of the plant 

 palmate, with lanceolate, acute lobes; at the top simply 

 linear-lanceolate. Stipules subulate. jFloicers axillary, short- 

 peduncled. Exterior cali/x of seven subulate leaves; the 

 inner one bristly and glandular. 



Beng. Mesta pat. 



Hind. Puloo. 



Teling. Gwng-kura. 



Native place uncertain. Cultivated during the rainy sea- 

 son. The leaves are used as a pot herb, and the bark for hemp. 



33. H. radiutns. Willd. iii. 824. 



Perennial, prickly. Leaves palmate ; lobes lanceolate, ser- 

 rate. Stipules ensiform. Flowers axillary. Calyx bristly, 

 the exterior one of eight or ten, linear, sub-bifurcated divi- 

 sions. 



Native place uncertain, but it is common in gardens about 

 Calcutta, where it blossoms during- the cold season. 



Stem short, scarcely ligneous, though existing- two or three 

 years. Branches numerous, spreading, and ascending, armed 

 with small prickles; generally the length of the plant, from 

 five to six feet. Leaves alternate, palmate, rarely simple ; 

 lobes generally five in young plants, in old ones fewer, and 

 broader-lanceolate, deeply and acutely serrate ; smooth on 

 both sides, from four to five inches long, by one broad. Pe- 

 tioles armed, and nearly as long as the leaves. Stipules en- 

 siform. Flowers axillary, solitary, short-ped uncled, very 

 large ; the exterior two thirds of the petals yellow, and spread- 

 ing horizontally ; the inner third deep crimson, and formed 

 into a bell. Calyx ; the exterior one of from eight to ten nar- 

 row-linear, bristly segments, which like W.Jurcatus, and bi- 

 J'urcatiis, have each a small additional segment, growing- from 

 the disk a little within the apex ; the iiiner calyx five-cleft, 

 longer than the exterior bristly segments, three ribbed, and 

 rather without the large gland in the middle of each, as in H. 

 VOL. III. ■ A a 



