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NAT. ORDER 

 RosacecB. 



HIBISCUS ROSA SINENSIS. CHINA-ROSE. 



Class XVI. MONADELPHIA. OrdcV V. POLYANDRIA. 



Gen. Char. Calyx double, outer many-leaved. Capsules, five- 

 celled, with many seeds. 

 Spe. Char. Leaves, sub-peltate, cordate, seven-angled, serrate. 

 Stem, hisped. 



This is an evergreen shrub, and usually attains the height of 

 four to six feet. Its appearance very much resembles the hazel- 

 nut. The sepals are five, more or less united at the base with a 

 valvate aestivation, often bearing external bracteas, forming an in.- 

 volucrum ; petals of the same number as the sepals, hypogynous, 

 with a twisted aestivation, either distinct, or adhering to the tube 

 of the stamens ; stamens indefinite, of the same number as the 

 petals ; filaments monadelphous ; anthers one-celled, reniform, 

 bursting transversely ; ovarium formed by the union of several 

 carpella round a common axis, which is distinct ; the styles are the 

 eame number as the carpella, either united or distinct ; stigmas 

 variable ; fruit either capsular or baccate, its carpella being mon- 

 ospermous, and united in one ; seeds hairy ; albumen none, or in 

 small quantity ; embryo curved, with twisted and double cotyledons ; 

 leaves alternate, more or less divided ; peduncles axillary. 



Rumphius, in his Herbarium Amboinense, gives an excellent 

 account of this beautiful native of the East Indies, accompanied 

 by a representation of it, with double flowers, in which state it is 

 more particularly cultivated in all the gardens in India, as well as 

 China; and, according to his account, it grows to the full size of 



Vol. ii.— 159 



