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



times larger than tlie calyx. Seeds numerous, cottony. — H. riyidus, Linn, f. 

 Supp. 310. H. clandestimis^ Cav. Ic. 1. t. 2. H. intermedius, Hochst. in 

 PI. Schimp. Abyss, nee Rich. H. farvifolius, Hochst. 1. c. H. versicolor, 

 Schura. et Thonn. PI. Guin. 311. 



Upper Guinea. Cape Coast, Brass / Seaegambia, Heudelot ! 



Nile Iiand. Soturba, Schtceinfurth ! Kordofan, Kotschy ! Abyssinia, Schimper ! 



South Central, Baines ! 



Mozamb. Distr. Zambesi, Br. Kirk ! Tette, Senna, Peters. 



This plant is also distributed in India, Ceylon, Arabia, etc. It varies much in the size 

 of its flowers and leaves, but the variations are not sufficiently marked or constant to allow 

 of their separation into distinct species, 



Garcke in Peters' Mossamb, Bot. p. 127, mentions H. hirtus, L,, the H. phoevice7(s of 

 Willd, (partly), as a native of the island of Mozambique, but the above species is probably 

 the one intended, 



28. H. ebracteatus. Mast. A much-branched undershrub, with rigid, 

 flexuose, shortly jointed branches ; the younger ones, as well as the leaves and 

 outer surface of the calyx, densely covered with fine down. Petioles shorter 

 than the leaves, which latter are small, oblong, obtuse, tapering to the base, 

 serrated, \ in. in length, 3-4 long. Stipules deciduous, liguliform. Pe- 

 duncles solitary, axillary, 1-flowered, longer than the leaves, thickened be- 

 low the flower. Epicalyx absent. Calyx bell-shaped, 5-parted ; segments 

 triangular. Corolla pink, twice the size of the calyx. Capsule subglobular, 

 half as large again as the persistent calyx, bursting loculicidally by 5 bluntish 

 valves. Seeds numerous, clothed with long cottony hairs. 



South Central, Chapman and Baines ! 



A very distinct species, easily recognizable by its habit, the small leaves and flowers, the 

 absence of bracts, etc. 



29. H. tematus, Mast. An erect, branching, slightly villous herb. 

 Leaves 2-3 in, long, on stalks of the same length or longer ; blades, subcor- 

 date, ovate, acute or palmately 3-lobed ; upper leaves more deeply cut. 

 Segments oblong-lanceolate; central one longest, entire or nearly so at the 

 margins, and subglabrous ; pedicels as long as the leafstalks, jointed above 

 the middle. Involucel 0. Calyx cup-shaped, deeply divided into 5 lanceolate, 

 acuminate, 3-nerved segments. Corolla less than an inch long, twice the 

 length of the calyx, yellow. Capsule ovoid, pointed, hairy, half the length of 

 the calyx. Seeds angular, tuberculated. — Laguncea ternala, Willd. ; DC. 

 Prod. i. 474. 



Upper Guinea. Senegambia, Heudelot ! Perrottet ! Quorra, Barter ! 



Nile Land. Kordofan, Kotschy ! Abyssinia, Ehrenhery. 



Mozamb. Distr. Zambesi, Pc'^^?.y; Shupanga, Z>r, Z?>^ / 



Var, /3, simplicifolia. Leaves simple, cordate ovate-lanceolate. — Senegambia, Perrottet ! 



30. H. Solandra, UHer. Stirp. i. 108. t. 49. An erect, slightly 

 villose, branching annual. Leaves on long stalks, 3 or 4 in. long, 2 or 3 in. 

 wide, broadly ovate, acuminate, often deeply-palmately 3-lobed ; lobes broadly 

 lance-shaped, smooth or with a few villi along the nerves. Peduncles nearly 

 as long as the adjacent leafstalks, arranged along the ends of the branches so 



