776 MALVACEAE 



long, acuminate, serrate-dentate, rounded or subcordate at the base, greenish above and 

 densely velvety toinentose and whitish below ; petioles shorter than the blades : peduncles 

 corymbose or racemose: bractlets of the involucel linear, 1.5-2 cm. long : calyx surpassing 

 the bractlets ; tube campanulate ; lobes ovate to triangular-lanceolate, acuminate, ribbed, 

 shorter than the tube : petals white, sulphur yellow or pinkish, with a crimson blotch at 

 the base, 8-10 cm. long : capsule ovoid, 2.5-3 cm. long, hispid. 



In swamps, chiefly near the coast, Maryland to Florida and Alabama. Spring to fall. 



10. Hibiscus coccineus Walt. Perennial, glabrous. Stems 1-3 m. tall, simple or 

 branching, glaucous : leaf -blades 5-parted (or the upper ones 3-parted or 3-lobed), the 

 segments linear to lanceolate, 4-25 cm. long, coarsely toothed or incised, long-acuminate ; 

 petioles as long as the blades or shorter : bractlets of the involucels 2.5-3 cm. long, curved : 

 calyx large, 4-5 cm. long ; lobes lanceolate, acuminate, longer than the tube : petals 

 crimson or deep-red, spatulate-obovate, 8-12 cm. long, rounded at the apex : capsule 2-2.5 

 cm. long, acute. 



In swamps near the coast, Georgia and Florida. Summer. 



11. Hibiscus integrifolius (Chapm.) Small. Perennial, glabrous. Stems 1-2 m. tall, 

 simple or sparingly branched : leaf-blades orbicular or ovate in outline, 8-15 cm. in 

 diameter, 3-5-lobed, coarsely serrate, cordate, the lobes acuminate or the lateral ones 

 angular : bractlets of the involucel about 2-2.5 cm. long, linear : calyx large, 4-5 cm. 

 long ; lobes lanceolate, acute, much longer than the tube : petals crimson, 8-10 cm. long, 

 spatulate-obovate or cuneate-spatulate. [H. coccineus var. integrifolius Chapm. H. semilobatus 

 Chapm.] 



In deep swamps, eastern Florida. Spring to fall. 



12. Hibiscus militkris Cav. Perennial, glabrous or nearly so. Stems 1-2 m. tall, 

 more or less branched : leaf-blades ovate or broadly lanceolate in outline, 6-16 cm. long, 

 some or all hastately 3-5-lobed, serrate-dentate, truncate or cordate at the base, the lobes 

 acute or acuminate ; petioles as long as the blades or shorter : peduncles shorter than the 

 subtending petioles: bractlets of the involucels numerous, linear, 1.5-2 cm. long: calyx 

 accrescent ; tube campanulate ; lobes ovate, shorter than the tube, acuminate : petals pink 

 with a purple blotch at the base, 5-8 cm. long : capsule 1.5-2.5 cm. long, abruptly 

 pointed. 



On river banks, Pennsylvania to Minnesota, Florida and Louisiana. Summer and fall. SWEATING- 

 WEED. 



13. Hibiscus Trionum L. Annual, more or less hispid. Stems branching at the 

 base, the branches spreading, 1-4 dm. long : leaf-blades ovate to suborbicular in outline, 

 pedately 3-5-lobed or parted, the divisions coarsely toothed or incised, the teeth obtuse : 

 peduncles shorter than the subtending petioles : bractlets of the involucels linear, about 1 

 cm. long : calyx longer than the bractlets ; lobes triangular, prominently nerved, shorter 

 than the tube : petals pale yellow or whitish with a purple or brown-purple blotch at the 

 base, 2.5-4 cm. long, broadly spatulate : capsule ovoid-globose, about 1.5 cm. high, each 

 surrounded by a bladder-like calyx. 



In waste places, Nova Scotia to Minnesota and Florida. Native of Europe. Summer and fall. 



14. Hibiscus Mdnihot L. Annual, stout, glabrous, or the young foliage bristly. Stems 

 usually 2 m. tall, or taller: leaves ample ; blades 1-4 dm. in diameter, palmately or pedately 

 5-9-lobed, the lobes coarsely toothed, incised or lobed ; petioles commonly about as long as 

 the blades : peduncles club-shaped, 3-6 cm. long : bractlets of the involucel oblong-lance- 

 olate 1.5-2.5 cm. long: calyx 'persistent; lobes lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate: petals 

 suborbicular, yellow or straw-colored, blotched with purple at the base : capsule oblong- 

 prismatic, 4-8 cm. long, hispid. 



In waste places and on banks or in cultivated grounds, Florida to Texas. Naturalized from Asia. 



15. Hibiscus escu!6ntus L. Annual, more or less densely hirsute. Stems 1-2 m. 

 tall, simple or sparingly branched : leaves ample ; blades 1-3 dm. broad, palmately or ped- 

 ately 5-7-lobed, the lobes ovate to lanceolate or oblanceolate, coarsely toothed or incised ; 

 petioles often about as long as the blades : peduncles short, 1-3 cm. long : bractlets of the 

 involucels linear, bristly, 1.5 cm. long : calyx campanulate ; lobes 1-2 cm. long : petals 

 yellowish and red or purple at the base, broad, 2-4 cm. long : capsule columnar, angled, 

 9-21 cm. long, tapering at the apex. 



In waste places, gardens and cultivated lands in the warmer parts of the southeastern United States. 

 Introduced from Africa and the West Indies. OKRA. GUMBO. 



16. Hibiscus til&ceus L. A shrub or small tree, with velvety tomentose young 

 foliage. Leaf-blades suborbicular, 1-2 dm. in diameter, shallowly toothed, abruptly acu- 

 minate, deeply cordate, prominently nerved beneath ; petioles as long as the blades or 

 shorter : peduncles stout, as long as the calyx or longer : bractlets of the involucel partially 



