458 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



up to the time of the American war the consumption of cotton enonnonsly 

 increased, but at the present time the quantity consumed is less than for- 

 merly. 



Cotton is now made officinal in the British Pharmacopoeia for the pur- 

 pose of preparing gun-cotton {Pyroxylin) from which coUodion is directed 

 to be made. Collodion is a valuable local application to wounds, &c., and 

 in burns, skin diseases, erysipelas, &c. Cotton in itself is also a useful 

 application to bums and inflamed surfaces. It acts by excluding the air, 

 and by keeping the affected parts at a uniform temperature. The seeds of 

 the Cotton-plants, after the cotton has been obtained from them, upon being 

 submitted to pressure, yield a fixed oil, which may be used for burning in 

 lamps, and for (>ther piirposes. From 80,000 to 100.000 tons are imported 

 annually. The oil has been largely used in place of olive oil for eating pur- 

 poses, and for making soap. The cake left after the expression of the oil i|^, 

 employed for feeding cattle. 



Hibiscus — H. cannahinus yields the valuable fibre, known under the name of 

 Simnee or Brown Indian Hemp, which is commonly used in India as a sub- 

 stitute for true Hemp. It is sometimes termed Sunn Hemp, but improperly 

 so, as the true Simn is obtained from Crotalaria jimcea, a plant belonging to 

 the LeguminosEe. 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 

 Laqetia.) Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis has astringent petals, which are used by 

 the Chinese to blacken their eyebrows, and the leather of their shoes. The 

 expressed fi-esh juice of these petals is said to form a good substitute for 

 litmus ; and an infusion of the petals has also been repiited useful as a de- 

 mulcent refrigerant drink in fevers. Various other species of Hibiscus, as H. 

 striatus, H. tiliacens, &c., also yield valuable fibres, useful for textile fabrics, 

 or for paper-making. 



Malaclii-a capitata. — The leaves are reputed to be anthelmintic, and are 

 employetl for that pui-pose in Panama. 



Malra. — Malva sylrestris, the Common Mallow, has similar properties to 

 the Mareh-Mallow. (See Althcm.) Its bark also yields strong fibres. Malva 

 Alcea. The petals of this plant have astringent properties, and yield a 

 black dye. 



Paritium elatiim. — The material known as Cuba Bast, now largely used by 

 gardeners for tying up plants, &c., is prepared from the liber of this tree. 



Pavonia diuretica derives its specific name from its supposed diuretic pro- 

 perty, for which purpose it is used in Brazil. 



Sida. — Sida micraittha and other species, supply fibres useful in the manu- 

 facture of cordage, &c. Rocket-sticks are also obtained from the stems of 

 S. micrantha, Sida cordifolia and »S. niauritiana 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 in the treatment of rheumatism. 



Many plants of the order have showy flowers, and are cultivated in our 

 gardens and stoves ; for example, the Althcea rosea (Hollyhock), Abuhlon, 

 Hibiscus, Sida, &c. Hibiscus mutabiUs 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. 



Natural Order 29. STEKCULiACEiE. — The Silk-Cotton Order. 

 — Character. — Trees ov shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple or 

 compound, with deciduous stipules. Flowers usually perfect, 

 sometimes by abortion unisexual, regular or irregular, often sur- 

 rounded by an involucre. CaJyx and corolla resembling the 

 Malvaceae, always, however, having five parts ; the petals are, 

 however, sometimes absent. Stamens united by their filaments 

 into a column, indefinite; anthers 2-celled, extrorse. Carpels 3 



