76 MALVACEZ. [Plagianthus. 
700 and 800. Most of the species possess mucilaginous properties, and all are 
quite innocuous. Many are cultivated for ornament, and one genus (Gossypiwm) 
for the woolly covering which surrounds its seeds, and which constitutes the 
cotton of commerce. Of the 4 following genera, Hoheria is endemic; Plagian- 
thus is found in Australia, and Gaya in South America; while Hibiscus is uni- 
versal in warm countries. 
A. Staminal column bearing anthers at the top. Carpels closely united in a 
ring around a central axis, from which they fall away when ripe (Malvez). 
Flowers more or less unisexual. Styles with linear de- 
current stigmas. Carpels usually solitary in the New 
Zealand species af ae a oP 
Flowers perfect. Stigmas capitate. Carpels several, in- 
dehiscent, winged at the back ats bit AS 
Flowers perfect. Stigmas capitate. Carpels many, 
2-valved, not winged xs Se Ss 
i. PLAGIANTHUS. 
2. HOHERIA. 
3. GAYA. 
B. Staminal column bearing anthers at the side, naked and 5-toothed ai the 
top. Carpels united into a capsule, dehiscing loculicidally (Hibiscez). 
Bracteoles 5 to many. Capsule 5-celled, many-seeded .. 4. Hibiscus. 
1. PLAGIANTHUS, Forst. 
Trees or shrubs, rarely herbs. Leaves entire or lobed or serrate. 
Flowers usually small, hermaphrodite or unisexual, in axillary or 
terminal fascicles or panicles, or solitary. Bracteoles wanting, 
or small and distant from the calyx. Calyx 5-toothed or 5-fid. 
Staminal column split at the top into numerous filaments. Ovary 
1-celled or 2-5-celled; ovules 1 in each cell; styles as many as the 
cells, clavate flattened or filiform, stigmatic along the inner side. 
Fruit of one or several carpels seceding from a common axis, inde- 
hiscent or splitting irregularly. Seed solitary, pendulous. 
A small genus of about 12 species, confined to Australia and New Zealand, 
the species found in each country being endemic. The New Zealand species are 
practically dicecious, although a few hermaphrodite or female flowers are occa- 
sionally mixed with the males. 
(Plagianthus Lyallii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Flora, 30, is now referred to 
Gaya. PP. linariifolia, Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 394, t. 34, is 
Coprosma Kirkii, Cheesem.) 
Shrub, much branched. Leaves small, linear, entire. 
Flowers solitary or fascicled. . ss as Be 
‘Small tree. Leaves linear-oblong, toothed. Flowers in 
few-flowered cymes.. x Je a ae 
Tree, 30-60ft. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, serrate. 
Flowers numerous, in decompound panicles .. .. 3. P. betulinus. 
1. BP. diwaricatus. 
2. P. cymosus. 
1. P. divaricatus, Forst. Char. Gen. 86.—A glabrous much- 
branched shrub 4-8 ft. high; branches tough, slender, divaricating, 
often much interlaced. Leaves alternate or fascicled on short 
lateral branchlets; of young plants lin. long, linear-oblong, nar- 
rowed into rather long petioles, entire or sinuate; of mature plants 
41_3in., narrow-linear or narrow linear-obovate, coriaceous, obtuse, 
quite entire, l-nerved. Flowers very small, generally unisexual, 
yellowish-white, solitary or fascicled, axillary; peduncles shorter 
