204 XXV. MALVACE^ (masters). [Hibiscus. 



long or longer than the petioles. Flowers numerous, crowded, in terminal 

 leafy panicles. Epicalyx of 12 linear stipule-like villose bracts, united at the 

 extreme base, nearly equalling the cup-shaped 5-lobed calyx, whose lobes are 

 ovate-acute. Petals pink, oblong, 3 or 4 times the length of the calyx. Sta- 

 minal-tube projecting beyond the corolla. Styles 5, exstrted. Capsule pyri- 

 form, obtuse, somewhat 5-lobed ; valves 5, blunt^ slightly winged, at the edges. 

 Seeds unknown. 



Nile Land. White Nile, Petherick ! Ugani and Madi, Speke and Grayii I 



23. H. Sabdariffa, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 453. Annual or sometimes 

 perennial, with a slightly branched, erect, smooth or slightly hispid, often 

 purplish stem. Leaves stalked ; lower ones (and sometimes the upper ones 

 also) undivided, cordate or cuneate at the base, ovate, acute, dentate, pal- 

 inately 3-5-nerved, with a single gland on the central nerve near the base, 

 smooth or with a few weak hairs on both surfaces ; upper leaves generally 

 larger, palmately 3-5-lobed ; lobes oblong, lanceolate, the central one 

 longest. Peduncles solitary, axillary, 1-flowered, thickened upwards, much 

 shorter than the leaves. Epicalyx of 8-10, linear-oblong, villose or tuber- 

 culate segments, connate below with the base of the calyx. Calyx cup- 

 shaped, longer than the epicalyx, often purplish, 5 -parted ; segments deltoid, 

 acuminate, studded with asperities, especially on the margins. Corolla yellow, 

 much larger than the calyx. Capsule ovoid, pointed, densely villose, shorter 

 than the calyx ; valves leathe^'y, pointed. Seeds numerous, reniform, pilose. 



North Central, E. Vogell 



Nile Ijand. Kordofan, Kotschy ! Sennar, Hartman ; Unyoro and Ugani, Speke and 

 Grant ! 



Mozamb. Distr. Zambesi, Lower Shire Valley, Dr. Kirh ! 



A commonly cultivated plant in tropical countries, and, like most plants so circumstanced, 

 very variable in stature, form of leaves, etc. In the East and West Indies it is used as a 

 cooling and agreeable article of diet. Dr. Kirk says that it is used by the natives of Africa 

 to flavour broth, and the seeds are reported to be aphrodisiac. 



2^. H. cannabinus, Linn.; DC. Prod. i. 450. An erect, branched 

 annual, more or less thickly beset with aculeate tubercles. Leaves on very 

 long stalks, deeply palmately 5-7-lobed ; lobes oblong-lanceolate, sinuous, 

 denticulate, or sometimes more deeply divided, smooth on both surfaces or 

 with a few prickly hairs, 1-glandulose on the under surface. Peduncles 

 axillary, short, thick. Epicalyx of 5-7, linear, slightly coherent segments, 

 shorter than the calyx, whose 5 lobes are lanceolate, acuminate, 1-glandu- 

 lose, their margins and midribs fringed with coarse purplish bristles. Corolla 

 yellow, with a purple centre, three or four times larger than the calyx. Cap- 

 sule ovoid, pointed, villose, half the length of the calyx. Seeds numerous, 

 slightly pilose. — ? H. ubtusatm, Schum. et Thonn. PI. Guin. 321. //. co7i- 

 gener, Schum. et Thonn. 1. c. 319. H. radiotus, Cav. Diss. 150. t. 154. f. 2 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Aust. i. 212. H. verrucosus, Guill. et Perr. Fl. Seneg. i. 87. H. 

 asper. Hook. f. Fl. Kigrit. 228. H. aculeatus, Don, Gen..Syst. i. 480. 



Cultivated for the sake of its fibre in most parts of Africa. 

 Upper Guinea. Niger, Burton ! Barter ! 

 Voyel .' 



