ABUTILON VENOSUM— Veined Abutilon. 



Malvacea. Monadelp}iia Polyandria. 



d'i HE genus Sida was founaed by Linnaeus, and until 

 %1 the last six or eight years, comprised a number of 

 comparatively not very beautiful species ; but during 

 this period several greatly superior kinds have been 

 made known. We may mention Sida Picta, a plant 

 well known. S. Bedfordianum, with flowers some- 

 what resembling the last in shape and colour, but produced erect, and 

 numerously at the ends of the branches. S. graveolens, a very dis- 

 tinct species, with soft pale green foliage, and yellow flowers having a 

 deep blood coloured eye. S, pceonijiora, with rosy-red flowers, the 

 petals of which imbricate so as to form a rather globular appearance. 

 S. vitifolia, possessing large lavender coloured flowers, and has grown 

 for several years in the open air in Ireland. And, finally, our present 

 species, which exceeds them all in the beauty of its flowers, and is 

 equally ornamental in growth. The whole of these plants are however 

 now more generally recognised by cultivators under the generic title 

 Abutilon, which was first applied by Moench ; we have, therefore, for 

 this reason, on the present occasion, retained the generally adopted 

 name. The Abutilon was formerly a section of the genus Sida, the 

 latter having carpels (parts which hold the seeds), containing many 

 seeds in each, but the former have only one seed in each. Nearly all 

 the flowers of Abutilon are bladder formed, but those of Sida more 

 expanded. In consequence of such distinctions they have been formed 

 into separate genera, but custom in the title hitherto prevails. 



In the management of A. venosum, or the various other species we 

 have enumerated, there is no grounds for appreiiending improper 

 treatment, any good soil being suitable to tliem, tliough perhaps in 

 Vol. XV. No. 2.-~N.S. c 



