Hibiscus. MONADELPHTA POLYANDRTA. 211 



of the coll, and valves, viz. from five to ei'oht, with a sinole 

 row ofroiuitl, smooth seeds in each cell. 



This is one of the best,if not the best of the esculent herbs of 

 India; the plant is easily raised from seed, and produces abun- 

 dance of fruit, the only part which is eaten. The whole plant, 

 particularly the capsules, is replete with much mild mucilage, 

 which 1 consider as highly nourishing' as well as mucilagi- 

 nous, and might no doubt be employed to advantage in all 

 diseases requiring emollients and demulcents. Some tender 

 branches jjlaccd in water for examination soon rendered it 

 gelatinous, almost as much so as if the branches o{ Pedalhnn 

 murex had been standing- in it. Dr. Cullen observes that 

 coughing' is often caused by acrid vapour, rising from the 

 lungs irritating the glottis, and its neighbourhood ; that by 

 besmearing these parts with demulcent matter, we often les- 

 sen the irniatiou and frequency of coughing. A mild, palat- 

 idjle, cidinary pre|)aration of the very young capsules of this 

 plant, would, I think, stand as lair a chance to answer this 

 inteittion as any thing 1 know, and at the same time prove a 

 nourishing part of the diet. 



The stigmas are replete with a very beautiful deep pur- 

 ple juice, which they communicate to paper, and which is to- 

 lerably durable. 



H. escnlentffs, the AVest India Okra possesses virtues near- 

 ly similar, througii I believe inferior; this I have also culti- 

 vated for many years in the Botanic garden, and it differs 

 from this very conspicuously, both in the shape of the leaves 

 and capsules. 



35. H. tetraphyflifs. R. 



Annual, erect, ramous, hairy. Leaves palmate ; divisions 

 variously lobate, and acutely dentate. Stipules and bractes 

 lanceolate. Flowers racemed. Exterior calyx four-leaved. 

 Capsules linear-oblong, hairy. 



A large, racemous, annual species, of from four to five feet 



A a 2 



