34 



are lashed in the West India Islands. The plant is called Mohoe or Mohaut, 

 Hamilt. Prodr. 49. The petals of. some are astringent; this property exists 

 in Malva Alcea {Dec.) and in Hibiscus Rosa sinensis, of which the Chinese 

 make use to blacken their eyebrows and the leather of their shoes. lb. The 

 leaves of Althea rosea are said to yield a blue colouring matter not inferior to 

 indigo. Ed. P. J. 14. 376. A decoction of the root and stem of Urena 

 lobata is employed in Brazil as a remedy in windy cholic ; the flowers are 

 used as an expectorant in dry and inveterate coughs. The bark furnishes 

 good cordage. PI. Us. 56. A few species, such as Hibiscus Sabdariffa and 

 surattensis, &c, are slightly acid. The unripe fruit of the Ochro, or Hibiscus 

 esculentus, is a favourite ingredient in soups, which are thickened by the 

 mucilaginous quality of this plant. The musky seeds of Hibiscus Abelmos- 

 chus are considered cordial and stomachic, and by the Arubians are mixed 

 with coffee. Jlinslie, 2. 73. The root of Sida lanceolata is intensely bitter, 

 and is considered a valuable stomachic. Ainslie, 2. 179. It has been sup- 

 posed that the root, of Althaea officinalis contains a peculiar alkaline principle 

 called Mthein ; but it has since been stated by M. Plisson that it does not 

 exist ; what was taken for it having been Asparagin. Brewster, 8. 359. The 

 Cotton of commerce is the hairy covering of the seeds of several species of 

 Gossypium. 



Examples. Malva, Lavatera, Hibiscus. 



XXV. CHLENACE.E. 



Chlenacejs, Thouars Hist. Veg. Afr. Austr. 46. (1806); Dec. Prodr. 1. 521. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous indefinite morra- 

 delphous stamens, concrete carpella, an ovarium with several cells, and sus- 

 pended ovules, an imbricated calyx enclosed in an involucrum, stipulate leaves, 

 and round anthers bursting longitudinally. 



Anomalies. Leptolaena has definite stamens. 



Essential Chabacter. Involucrum 1-2-flowered, persistent, of variable form and texture, 

 Sepals 3, small ; ajstivation imbricated 1 Petals 5 or 6, hypogynous, broader at the base, 

 sometimes cohering' there. Stamens either very numerous, or sometimes only 10 ; filaments 

 either cohering at the base into a tube, or adhering to the tube of petals; anthers roundish, 

 adnate, or loose, 2-cellcd. Ovarium single and 3-celled; style 1, filiform ; stigma triple. Capsule 

 3-cellcd, or 1-celled by abortion. Seeds solitary or numerous, attached to the centre, sus- 

 pended ; embryo green, central ; albumen fleshy according to Jussicu, or horny according to 

 Du Petit Thouars: cotyledons foliaceous, wavy. — Trees or Shrubs. Leaves alternate, with 

 stipulte, entire. Stipuloc deciduous. Flowers in panicles or racemes. Dec. 



Affinities. The monadelphous stamens and involucrated flowers indicate 

 an affinity with Malvaceae But Jussieu refers them rather to the vicinity of 

 Ebenaceffi, considering the order monopetalous, and the seeds albuminous. 

 Very little is, in fact, known of these plants. 



Geography. They are only eight certain species, which are all natives of 

 Madagascar. 



Properties. Handsome shrubs, with fine flowers, often red ; but nothing 

 is known of their qualities. 



Examples. tSarcoloena, Leptolrena, Rhodolsena. 



