SECTION III: VAR. RELIGIOSA 201 



29. Var. relig-iosa, Watt: G. BELIGIOSUM, Linn., Syst. Nat., n. 

 (1767), 462 (in part) ; G. TEICUSPIDATUM, Lamk., Encycl. n., 

 135 ; G. EELIGIOSUM, Cav., Diss. 313, t. 164, /. 1, also Cav., 

 Lecciones (1827), 523 ; Nun's Cotton, Bohr, Cult, du Coton, 

 1807, p. 62 ; G. TEICUSPIDATUM, Poir., Diet, des Scienc. Nat. 

 XL, 1818, 39, also Turpin, Planches, Diet. dc. iv., t. 42; 

 Tussac, Fl Ant. 1818, n., 65-77 (excl. t. 17) ; G. CEOCEUM, 

 Ham., Trans. Linn. Soc. xm. (1822), 491-4 ; G. EELIGIOSUM, 

 Boxb., Fl. Ind. m. (1832) 185-6 (correctly recognises it as allied 

 to G. hirstttum, but MS. drawing (n. 1497) is named G. fuscum) 

 (reproduced here as Plate No. 33) ; G. HIBSUTUM, var. 8 lana 

 rufa, Parl., Spec, del Cotoni, 1866, 43 ; var. rufa, Tod., Belaz., 

 Cult, dei Cot., 211 ; var. lana rufa, Aliotta, Biv. Grit. Gen. 

 Goss. 1903, 80 ; G. EELIGIOSUM, Small, Fl. Southeastern U.S. 

 America, 1903, 778. 



Nankin or Khaki Cotton, Eoman Cotton, Siamese Cotton (of some 

 writers), &c. 



The following may be given as the diagnostic characters : shoots Descrip- 

 elongated slender, the plant in consequence creeping or climbing, tion - 

 internodes long, straight, profusely tomentose ; leaves with long 

 petioles, often entire or prominently 3-lobed on the apex (sometimes 

 only 2-lobed or occasionally 5-lobed), lobes triangular acute, stipules 

 persistent, broad, oblique, ovate lanceolate, 3-nerved, sub-cordate ; 

 flowers on short angled peduncles, all axillary and having broad 

 deeply gashed bracteoles, and relatively very large, pale yellow 

 flowers without purple spots but turning purple on maturity ; calyx 

 teeth, large, triangular ; fruits oblong, pointed ; seeds with both fuzz 

 and floss, most frequently of the rusty colour seen in the wild cottons. 

 (See Plates Nos. 32 and 33 ) 



Habitat. Cultivated in most tropical or warm temperate countries India, 

 India, Fiji Islands, Egypt, United States, &c. Its origin is un- "** &c ' 

 known, but it is perhaps a cultivated state of G. prostratum, Sch. et 

 Thon., in which case it possibly originated in West Africa. Small 

 (I.e.) speaks of it as occurring 'along the coast of Florida and 

 Texas.' 



Citation of Specimens. The most interesting example of this species Speci- 

 is the type sheet in the Linnean Herbarium, London. Then there are, in mens. 

 the Herbarium of the Boyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, several sheets of this 

 special form such as the Fiji samples from the Bakiraki Coast, Nayatu 

 (Seemann, n. 28, which has been incorrectly named G. tomentosum, Nutt.) 



