768 CONTRIBUTIONS FBOM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



2. Sphaeralcea crenulata T. S. Brandeg. Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 3: 384, 1909. 

 Known only from the type locality, Cerro de Paxtle, near San Luis Tultit- 



lanapa, Puebla. 



Leaves 4 to 6 cm. long, angulate or sliallowly lobate, finely stellate-pubes- 

 cent, the lobes obtuse, irregularly crenate and dentate ; calyx 1 to 1.5 cm. long ; 

 petals 3 cm. long or less. 



3. Sphaeralcea umbellata (Cav.) Don, Hist. Dichl. PI. 1: 465. 1831. 

 Malva umbellata Cav. Icon. PI. 1: 64. pi. 95. 1791. 

 Sphaeralcea galeottii Turcz. Bull. Soc. Nat. Moscou 31*: 186. 1858. 

 San Luis PotosI to Puebla. 



Shrub or tree, 1.5 to 6 meters high ; leaves 6 to 22 cm. long, cordate at base, 

 coarsely stellate-pubescent beneath, shallowly lobate, the lobes acute or acutish, 

 sinuate-dentate ; calyx about 2 cm. long ; carpels 1.5 cm. long, stellate-hirsute. 



12. LAVATERA L. Sp. PI. 690. 1753. 



Shrubs with stellate pubescence ; leaves angulate or lobate ; peduncles 

 1-flowered, axillary, solitary or fasciculate; bractlets coalescent, forming a 3 

 to 6-lobate involucre ; carpels numerous, 1-seeded, verticillate about a prominent 

 axis. 



An interesting general account of the American species has been published 

 by E. L. Greene.* The roots of L. plcbeia Sims, which somewhat I'esemble 

 parsnips, are used as food by the natives of Australia. The fiber of the same 

 species was utilized by the aborigines for the manufacture of baskets and 

 fishing lines, and the stems have been tested successfully for paper making. 



Leaves glabrous or essentially so 1. L. venosa. 



Leaves finely stellate-pubescent. 



Axis of the fruit not equaling the carpels 2. L. assurgentiflora. 



Axis of the fruit conic, much exceeding the carpels. 



Bractlets more than half as long as the calyx, conspicuously united at 



base 3. L. occidentalis. 



Bractlets less than half as long as the calyx, nearly distinct. 



4. L. insularis. 



1. Lavatera venosa S. "Wats. Proc. Amer. Acad. 12: 249. 1877. 

 Known only from San Benito Island, Baja California. 



Shrub, glabrous throughout or nearly so ; leaves 7 to 15 cm. long, green, 

 usually 7-lobed, the lobes obtuse, coarsely crenate ; petals 4 cm. long, white 

 below, violet above ; carpels 4 mm. long. 



2. Lavatera assurgentiflora Kellogg, Proc. Calif. Acad. 1 : 14. 1854. 

 Northern Baja California. California ; type from Anacapa Island. 



Shrub, 3 meters high or less ; leaves long-petiolate, 5 to 13 cm. long, finely 

 stellate-pubescent, deeply cordate at base, usually 5-lobate, the lobes irregularly 

 dentate or lobate ; peduncles long and slender ; bractlets less than half as long 

 as the calyx ; petals 3 to 4 cm. long, deep pink, veined with red. 



A handsome plant, often cultivated in Mexico (specimens have been seen 

 from the City of Mexico, Puebla, and Veracruz). 



3. Lavatera occidentalis S. Wats. Proc. Amer. Acad. 11: 124. 1876. 

 Known only from Guadalupe Island, Baja California. 



Shrub, about a meter high ; leaves 7 to 12 cm. long, 7-lobate, the lobes acute 

 or obtuse, coarsely crenate; petals 5 cm. long, whitish, striped with violet; 

 carpels 6 to 10. 



'Gard. & For. 3: 37&-379. 1890. 



