MALVACEAE ) 321 
Species 6 or 7 of wide tropical and subtropical distribution, 1 in the 
Philippines. 
1. K. batacensis (Blanco) F.-Vill. Calot-calotan (Tag.). 
A spreading or somewhat erect branched herb, 1 m high or less, all 
parts more or less stellate-pubescent and with scattered stellate-hispid 
hairs. Leaves suborbicular, 2 to 5 cm long, shallowly 3-lobed, toothed, base 
cordate, 5- to 7-nerved. Flowers axillary, long-peduncled, solitary, about 
1.5 em long, the bracteoles linear, 7 to 10, as long as the pubescent and 
hispid calyx. Corolla pinkish-red. Fruit about 1 cm in diameter, de- 
pressed, prominently 5-angled or winged, loculicidally dehiscent. 
In open waste places, Pasay, fl. Jan.Feb. Known only from Luzon 
and apparently of very local occurrence; possibly an introduced plant. 
8. ABELMOSCHUS Medikus - 
Coarse, erect, branched, usually annual herbs, more or less hairy, with 
subentire or variously lobed leaves and large, alternate, axillary flowers. 
Bracteoles 5 or more. Calyx spathe-like, split down one side and falling 
after flowering. Petals 5, connate at the base with the staminal-tube. » 
Staminal-tube toothed at the apex and bearing many anthers. Ovary 
5-celled, cells many-ovuled. Styles 5, connate below. Capsule loculicidally 
5-valved. (From an Arabian name signifying “father of musk” in refer- 
ence to the musky odor of the seeds of some species.) 
Species 15 or more of wide tropical distribution, about 8 in the Phil- 
ippines. 
Peduncles about as long as the petioles; capsules 7 cm long or less; seeds 
Sue Gils RNR OE cen See ee ee Oe 1. A. moschatus 
Peduncles very much shorter than the petioles; capsules 10 to 20 cm long; 
py gs) ie A iledhae A aE: IN ele Lbs Renee Aah am ae Sock ih 2. A. esculentus 
1. A. mMoscHATUS Medik. (Hibiscus abelmoschus L.). Castuli, Calupi 
(Tag.). 
An annual, erect, branched, hispid-hairy herb 1 m high or less. Leaves 
orbicular-ovate to ovate in outline, 6 to 15 cm long, variously angled or 
lobed, the angles or lobes usually 8 or 5, rarely more, usually broad, base 
cordate, apex acuminate, margins toothed. Peduncles about as long as the 
petioles. Bracteoles linear, usually about 8, 1.5 cm long. Calyx 2 to 3 
em long, split down one side, toothed at the apex. Corolla yellow, purple 
at the base inside, about 10 cm in diameter. Capsule oblong-ovoid, 5 to 7 
em long, hispid-hairy. Seeds musky. (FI. Filip. pl. 245.) 
In waste places, occasional, fl. most of the year; widely distributed in 
the Philippines, and probably of prehistoric introduction here. India to 
Malaya, cultivated in many other tropical countries. 
*2. A. ESCULENTUS (L.) Moench. (Hibiscus esculentus L.). Okra, Gumbo. 
A coarse, erect, branched, annual herb 0.6 to 1.5 m high, more or less 
hairy. Leaves orbicular or orbicular-ovate, 25 cm long or less, base cordate, 
margins 3- or 5-lobed, the lobes broadly ovate to oblong, coarsely toothed, 
the petioles equaling or longer than the leaves. Flowers axillary, solitary, 
their pedicels about 2 cm long. Bracteoles 8 or 10, linear, deciduous. Calyx 
hairy, about 3 cm long. Corolla large, yellow, deep-purple at the base 
inside. Capsule 10 to 20 cm long, narrowly oblong. 
111555——21 
