Thespesia.'\ MalvacecS. 1 5 7 



fusiform-ovoid, much acuminate, surrounded by the persistent 

 bracteoles or naked, very hispid with spreading hairs ; seeds 

 globose-kidney-shaped, striate with fine ciliate ridges. 



Var. /3. purpureus, Thw. Enum. 26. C. P. 11 17. 



Very much more hispid with sharp bristly hairs ; fl. rather 

 smaller, never in leafless racemes, pet. at first white, becoming 

 a deep pink afterwards. 



Rather common in the upper low country and lower montane zone ; 

 var. /j. in upper montane zone by streams ; rare. Sita-Eliya, near Hak- 

 gala ; Ramboda ; Ohiya Valley. Fl. Nov.-March ; a. bright primrose 

 yellow, with a small purple base ; /3. white, becoming rich pink. 



Also in Southern India. 



Both varieties very handsome. Wight describes the flowers in the 

 Nilgiris as ' white, or very pale yellowish.' In Fl. B. Ind. the united per- 

 sistent bracteoles are described as the cal^oc, the real calyx being over- 

 looked, and the bracteoles said to be fugacious. 



12. H. tiliaceus, L. Sp. PL 694 (1753). Beli-patta, S. 



Herm. Mus. 45. Burm. Thes. 136. Fl. Zeyl. n. 259. Moon Cat. 50. 

 Pari f hint ttliaceu/n, Juss., Thw. Enum. 26. C. P. 11 20. 

 Fl. B. Ind. i. 343. Wight, Ic. t. 7. 



A small, much -branched tree, young shoots pubescent; 

 1. 2^-3! in., rotund, more or less cordate at base, abruptly 

 acuminate, denticulate, smooth above, finely pubescent and 

 white beneath, petiole i-ij in., pubescent, stip. large, 1 in., 

 ovate, obtuse, pubescent ; fl. 3 in., appearing terminal, ped. 

 |- in., stout, curved, pubescent, bracteoles 10, connate for 

 three-fourths to form a campanulate persistent cup, sep. 

 connate for one-third, much longer than bracteoles, lanceolate, 

 acute, persistent ; capsule h in., shorter than cal, pointed, 

 hairy, lo-celled. 



Low country, chiefly near the coast ; common near rivers and streams, 

 growing gregariously. Fl. Dec-March ; pale yellow, with a crimson 

 centre. 



Widely distributed in the Tropics of both hemispheres. 



Wood light, rather soft, the heart purplish-grey. The fibre of the 

 inner bark is much used for cordage and mats. 



9. THES PES! A, Corr. 



Trees or shrubs ; fl. solitary or in racemes, axillary, 

 bracteoles 5 or o ; sep. 5, completely combined into a truncate 

 cal.; pet. and stam. as in Hibiscus; ov. 4-5-celled, with 

 many ovules in each cell ; styles completely connate, stigma 

 club-shaped ; fruit a capsule, 4-5 celled, loculicidally or 

 irregularly dehiscent. — Sp. 6 ; 2 in Fl. B. Ind. 



