Hibiscus.'] XXV. malvace.e (masteks). 



205 



Nile Land, Kotschy ! Schweinfurth ! IleuyJdin ; Abyssii.K., Scln.n,,er ! MiuihL-a, 

 Upelce and Grant ! / r •> 



Lower Guinea. Congo, Smith ! 

 Mozamb. Distr., Drs. Kirk and Metier ! 



The plant is also widely distributed by cultivation throuf^h India and other parts of Asia, 

 and in subtropical Australia. 



Very variable in the form and dimensions of the leaves, and to a less extent in the colour 

 of the flowers. H. radiatas, Cav., only difil-rs in the absence of calycine glands. 



25. H. crassinervis, Uochd. in Rich. Fl. AhtfHs. i. Gl. An under- 

 shrub, its surface covered, except tlie old wood, with dense rusl-coloured 

 stellate rigid pubescence. Branches spreading;. Leaves about 1 in. lon«r, 

 4-5 lines broad, on short petioles, subcordatc;, oblon<r-ovate, coarsely and 

 irregularly serrated, 3-5-nerved ; nerves prominent. Stipules setuceoils, de- 

 ciduous. Peduncles solitary, axillary, remote or clustered at the ends of the 

 branches, longer than the leaves, jointed above the middle and densely covered 

 with rufous hairs. Flowers small, scarcely \ in. long. Kpicalyx of 7-8, 

 linear-spathulate segments, which equal or even exceed the 5 triangular 

 lobes of the bell-shaped calyx. Corolla pmk, exceediug the calyx, pilose 

 on the outer surface. Capsule roundish or ovoid obtuse ; valves smooth, 

 obtuse or apiculate, twice the length of the calyx. Seeds cottony.— Walp. 

 Ann. ii. 147. H. eriospermus, Hochst. in PL Schimp. A})vss. //. hrevi]>e.s^ 

 Garcke in Bot. Zeit. 1849, 854. H. erianihus, R. Br. in Salt. Abyss. A pp. 05. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Salt ! Sckimper ! Dillon and Petit ! 



26. H. gossypinuSy Thunb. ; DC. Prod. i. 453. A much-branched 

 undershrub, the rod-like erect branches densely clothed with rust-coloured 

 rigid hairs. Leaves on short stalks, broadly ovate, acute, subcordate or 

 wedge-shaped at the base, serrulate, downy on both surfaces. Stipules linear- 

 subidate. Inflorescence a terminal leafy pseudo-raceme ; pedicels longer 

 than the lanceolate Horal leaves, densely covered with short reddish stiff 

 hairs, swollen below the flower and jointed above the middle. Epicalyx of 

 8-12, linear, ciliolate segments. Calyx hispid, deeply divided into 5 lan- 

 ceolate, 5-nerved segments, longer than the epicalyx. Corolla pink, twice 

 the size of the calyx. Capside subglobose, obtuse ; valves smooth. Seeds 

 cottony. — H.fuscus, Garcke in Bot. Zeit. 1849, 854. 



Nile Land. Karague hills, Speke and Grant ! Abyssinia, Roth ' Plovden ! 

 Mozamb. Distr. Zami)esia, Manganya hills, Drs. Mellerand Kirk! 

 A handsome plant, extending into Natal and S. Africa; it is variable in the size and form 

 of its leaves and the colour of the corolla. 



27. H. micranthus, Linn.; DC. Prod. i. 453. An undershrub, with 

 long rod-like spreading l)ranches, thinly covered with appressed, stcllute, 

 bristle-like hairs. Petioles very short. Leaves about an inch long, oblong, 

 obtuse, wedge-shaped at the base, serrated, 3-nerved, rough with bristly 

 hairs. Peduncles longer than the leaves, jointed near the top ; flower half 

 an inch in length. Epicalyx of 7-8, distinct, linear segments. Calyx bell- 

 sliaped, 5-cleft ; its lobes triangidar, longer than the epicalyx. Corolla pink, 

 twice the size of the c.\lyx. Capsule ovoid, smooth, obtuse, thn-e or four 



