176 MONADELPHIA. 



(Mallow,) Hibiscus, and Sida. Also a few important ones, 

 as Gossypium, (Cotton,) and Camellia, (Tea.) 



GENUS Hibiscus. This is one of the Greek names of 

 Mallow. The genus is large, and contains some valuable 

 plants. The bark of one species, the Lime-tree leaved, (Hi 

 biscus tiliaceus,} is employed in the Sandwich Islands for the 

 purpose of making mats, ropes, lines, nets, &c. The whole 

 genus abounds in mucilage, and some of the inhabitants of 

 the South Sea islands, it is said, suck the bark for food in 

 times of scarcity. The Okra, (Hibiscus csculcntus,) so much 

 esteemed in some parts of France and the West Indies, as 

 an ingredient in soups, is one of this genus. This grows 

 four or five feet high, and is easily raised in our gardens 

 The Syrian Mallow, (Hibiscus syriacus,) called Althaea, is a 

 well known shrub, growing eight or ten feet high, and is so 

 hardy as to bear our winters. This will propagate by layers 

 or cuttings. 



GENUS Alth&a. Marsh Mallow. Name from the Greek 

 altho, to cure, because it was supposed to be highly effica- 

 cious as a medicine. The common Marsh Mallow, (Alth&a 

 officinalis,) is still employed as a demulcent in medicine. 

 The Holyhock, (Alth&a rasa,) came originally from China, 

 and affords twenty or thirty splendid varieties of border 

 flowers, some of which rise to the height of ten or twelve 

 feet. 



GENUS Gossypium. Cotton. Name from the Arabic goz, 

 a silky substance, from whence the Latins derived gossypi- 

 um, cotton. This is a very important genus, as furnishing 

 the down, or wool, of which cotton cloth is made. The 

 down is contained in a capsule, along with the seeds. 

 There are several species of this genus cultivated for this 

 purpose, in different parts of the world. The genus con- 

 tains ten species which differ in height from three to twelve 

 feet. In all the specks, the calyx is double, and the cap- 

 sules five celled. In he West Indies, the kind called hairy, 

 (Gossypium hirsutum,) which grows three feet high, is 

 raised. This is a handsome plant, with palmated leaves, 

 the lower ones five, arid the upper ones three lobed. It is 

 believed that this and the common species are chiefly cul- 

 tivated m this country. In China and the East Indies, the 



What important plants are contained in the order Polyandria of this 

 class ? What is said of the genus Hibiscus ? What species of the Cot 

 ton genus are chiefly cultivated ? 



