19. MALVACBM. [6. Hibiscus. 



In cool ravines in Singbhum and the S. P. not common, Fl. July -Oct. 

 Fr. Nov.-Dec. 



Btems hollow often black or pnrple spotted. Lower haves 5-7-lobed and 

 coarsely toothod, upper 3-partite serrate hairy above, with scattered 

 stellate hairs beneath. Lower petioles exceeding the blade. Raceme 

 often 15". Bracteoles connate at base. Beeds black striate with cnrved 

 most minutely pubescent lines. 



5. H- ficulneus> L. Naita, Ho. 



A branched herb about 3 ft. with a thick taproot. Stems 

 with small sharp tubercles or hispid hairs. L. palmately 

 3-5-lobed. Fls., 1-2" diam, white with purple eye. Buds 

 densely brown tomentose beaked with the 5 linear points of 

 the spathaceous calyx. Bracteoles 4-6 caducous. Capsule 

 1J-1|" covered with glandular and pungent hairs. {Seeds 

 striate, the strise with thin brown hairs. 



S. P. as an escape from cultivation, also in fields. Cultivated in 

 Singbhum and other districts. Fl. Oct.-Nov. Fr. Dec.-Jany. 



L. somewhat hispidly hairy, not sparsely stellate, variable from lobed 

 to 3-partite. Stipules caducous. Peduncles 1" swollen above. Valves of 

 capsule with long hairs on the margin (seen after dehiscence). Seeds 

 somewhat as in the two last. Roxburgh, however, describes the bracteoles 

 of H. strictus (the same plant) as small and subulate ; Masters (in F.B.I.) 

 as lanceolate. They are sometimes, at any rate, short and linear. 



The plant yields an excellent fibre. 



6. H, micranthus, L. 



An erect weedy-looking undershrub with slender branches 

 scabrid with stellate scattered bristles, and small ovate leaves 

 f-1''. Fls. \" diam. white or pink with reflexed corolla. 

 Capsule globose. 



Waste places, not common. Fl. Feby.-June. 



L. crenate or toothed, simple or- 3-lobed. Stipules ■§--£''. Peduncles 

 long slender articulate far exceeding the leaveB, usually on short lateral 

 branches. 



7. H. pandurseformis, Burm, 



A very tall herb 10-12 ft. Stems pubescent and with 

 pungent hairs. Lower leaves ovate and lobed, upper oblong- 

 lanceolate, all coarsely irregularly toothed. Fls. solitary, 

 axillary and sub- terminal 1-1 J* diam., yellow with purple eye 



189 



