Hibiscus. MONADRLPHl V POLYANDRIA. 213 



less divided, even three-lobed ; divisions linear, near their 

 apices dentate, pretty smooth on both sides ; length and 

 breadth of the whole leaves, from six to eight inches. Peti- 

 oles shorter than the leaves. Stipules ensiform. Floioers ter- 

 minal, and solitary from the terminal axills,pednncled, large, 

 drooping, yellow. Calyx, llie interior one constantly of five, 

 large, ovale, permanent leaflets ; the inner one spathiform, 

 a little hairy, deciduous. Capsule linear-oblong, when ripe 

 five-seeded, hairy. 



38. H. pungens. A*. 



Perennial, erect, ramous, every part armed with acute 

 bristles. Leaves palmate ; division linear-lanceolate, some- 

 what lobate, and deeply dentate-serrate. Stipules ensiform. 

 Racemes terminal. Exterior calyx four-leaved, permanent. 

 Capsule slender, acuminate, hairy, longer than the calyx. 



From Nepal Dr. Buchanan sent the seeds to the Botanic 

 garden, where the plants blossom about the close of the rains 

 and in the cold season. 



Stem erect, as thick as a walking- cane, and often continu- 

 ing- for two or more years. Branches ascending-, all are 

 round, green, and densely clothed, as is every other part of 

 the plant, with innumerable, diverging, strong, acute bristles; 

 which enter the skin like spines. Leaves long petioled, al- 

 ternate, palmate ; lobes linear-lanceolate, often lobate, and al- 

 ways deeply serrate-dentate ; length and breadth of the whole 

 leaf, from six to eight inches. Stipules broad-ensiform, or 

 sub-lanceolate. Racemes terminal, /'/otcers drooping, ra- 

 ther short-pedicelled, large, deep yellow. Bractes like the 

 stipules. Calyx ; the exterior one of four, large, broad-ovate, 

 permanent leaflets ; the inner one five-toothed. Capsule of a 

 long, thin, tapering, conical form, and much longer than the 

 calyces. 



39. H. heterophyllus. Vetit. JMah. p. 103. t. 103. 

 Arboreous. Trunk straight, armed. Leaves from palmate 



