STERCULIACE#. 479 
required. It is official in the Pharmacopeeia of India. The roasted seeds 
have been used as a substitute for coffee. The seeds also yield by expres- 
sion an oil which may be employed for edible and other purposes like olive 
oil. The fibre of the stems is also valuable for paper-making, and a patent 
has been taken out in France for this purpose, and the plant has been 
introduced into Algeria. The paper prepared from it is called banda paper. 
—Abelmoschus moschatus derives its specific name from the musky odour 
of its seeds, which are regarded as cordial and stomachic, and are sometimes 
mixed with coffee by the Arabs. They are also employed as a perfume. 
The powdered seeds steeped in rum are used in the West Indies as a 
remedy against the bites of serpents.—H. cannabinus yields the valuable 
fibre known under the name of Sunnee or Brown Indian Hemp, which is 
commonly used in India as a substitute for true Hemp. It is sometimes 
termed Sunn Hemp, but improperly so,as the true Sunn Hemp is derived 
from Crotalaria juncea, a plant of the order Leguminose. (See Crotalaria.) 
From the seeds a fixed oil is obtained by expression.— Hibiscus arboreus, a 
native of the West Indies, is also remarkable for the tenacity of its inner 
bark, and it is said by some authors that the whips formerly used by the 
slave-drivers were manufactured from its fibres. (See Lagetta.)— Hibiscus 
Rosa-sinensis has astringent petals, which are used by the Chinese to 
blacken their eyebrows ‘and the leather of their shoes, The expressed 
fresh juice of these petals is said to form a good substitute for litmus: and 
an infusion of the petals has also been reputed useful as a demulcent 
refrigerant drink in fevers. Various other species of Hibiscus, as H. 
striatus, H. tiliaceus, &c., also yield valuable fibres, useful for textile fabrics, 
or for paper-making. 
Malachra capitata—The leaves are reputed to be anthelmintic, and are 
employed for such a purpose in Panama. 
Malva.—Malva sylvestris, the common Mallow, has similar, although 
very inferior, properties to the Marsh-mallow. (See "Althea. ) Its bark also 
yields strong fibres—Malva Alcea—The petals of this plant have astrin- 
gent properties, and yield a black dye. 
Paritium elatum.—The material known as Cuba Bast, now largely used 
by gardeners for tying up plants, &c., is prepared from the liber of this 
tree. Cuba Bast is also employed for. tying up the bundles of Havannah 
cigars. 
Pavonia diuretica derives its specific name from its supposed diuretic 
property, for which purpose it is used in Brazil. 
Sida.—Sida micrantha and other species supply fibres useful in the 
manufacture of cordage, &c. Rocket-sticks are also obtained from the 
stems of S. micrantha.— Sida cordifolia and S. mauritiana have demulcent 
and emollient properties.—S. lanceolata has a very bitter root, which is 
reputed to be a valuable stomachic, The roots of S. retusa and other 
species are held in esteem by the natives of India for the treatment of 
rheumatism. 
Many plants of the order have showy flowers, and are cultivated in our 
gardens and stoves; for example, the Althea rosea (Hollyhock), Abutilon, 
Hibiscus, Sida, &c.— Hibiscus mutabilis is remarkable for the changing 
colour of its flowers, which vary in a single day from a cream-coloured rose 
to a rich rose or pink colour. 
Order 2. STERCULIACE®, the Silk-cotton Order.—Charac- 
ter.—Trees or shrubs, sometimes clirabing. Leaves alternate, 
simple or compound, with deciduous stipules. Flowers usually 
perfect, sometimes by abortion unisexual, regular or irregular, 
often surrounded by an involucre. Calyx and corolla resem- 
bling the Malvacez, always, however, having five parts ; but 
