JIalva] XXIII. MALVACEAE. 63 



Other species, however, are beset with hairs containing an ex- 

 tremely irritating juice, which affect the skin in the same way 

 as nettles, and even more so than the stinging species of Mucuna. 

 Welwitsch observed that the stinging species of African Malvacea- 

 have always lobed leaves. The leaves of one or two species of 

 Hibiscus afford an agreeable acidulous drink when boiled with 

 salt, and produce a beneficial effect on the digestive organs of 

 convalescents. A decoction made from the half-ripe fruits of 

 IT. esculentus is much appreciated even by the wealthy classes in 

 Angola. The smoke of Gossyjnimi (" Muginha " or " Muchinha "), 

 when bui-nt over an open fire, is used as a remedy for headache. 



A decoction of the roots of some small species of Sidci is em- 

 ployed in cases of diarrhoea, usually mixed with Mubango (Croton 

 Muhango Muell. Arg.). 



1. MALVA, L. ; Benth & Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. p. 201. 



1. M. sylvestris L. Sp. PI. edit. 1, p. 689 (1753); forma 

 depauperata. 



LoANDA. — A prostrate herb, with ascending branches and bluish- 

 violet flowers pretty large for the style of plant ; in sandy spots near 

 Cacuaco, but not at all abundant, and perhaps introduced ; fl. April 

 1854. No. 4904. 



2. M. parviflora L. Diss. Dem. PI. Nov. nota f. in Ama?n. 

 Acad. iii. p. 416 (1756); Masters in Oliv. Fl. Trop. Afr. i. p. 177. 



PuxGO AxDoNGO. — An annual or biennial herb, erect or ascending, 

 branched from the base, 2 to 3 ft. high, somewhat hispid all over with 

 stellate hairs ; epicalyx 3-leaved ; calyx 5-cleft ; petals 5, narrowly 

 obcordate, pale-violet, adnate by their short claws to the staminal 

 tube, fugacious, scarcely longer or even shorter than the calyx ; fruit 

 depressed ; carpels numerous, separating from the dilated central axis ; 

 abundant in waste previously cultivated spots and among crops of 

 Indian corn and Pluixedb/s, within the fortress of Pungo Andongo ; fl. 

 and young fr. middle of Jan. 1857. No. 4903. 



HuiLLA. — Flowers pale violet-purple ; in grassy places at the 

 borders of the forest near Lopollo ; fl. and fr. Feb. 1860. No. 4940. 



2. SIDA L. ; Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. p. 203. 



1. S. spinosa L. Sp. PL edit. 1, p. 683 (1753) ; Masters in Oliv. 

 Fl. Trop. Afr. i. p. 180. 



LoANDA. — Fl. and fr. No. 4952". A small erect very tough shrub, 

 1^ to 3 ft. high, with yellowish and also with whitish flowers ; abundant 

 in rather dry stations covered with short brushwood, between the city 

 of Loanda and Quicuxe ; fl. and fr. June 1858. No. 4959. 



PuxGo AxDOXGO. — A small shrub of 2 to 3 ft. ; in open spaces and 

 pastures about the city of Pungo Andongo, abundant ; fl. and fr. 

 Dec. 1856. No. 4961. 



2. S. acuta Burm. f. Fl. Ind. p. 147 (1768). 



S. carpinifolia L. f. Suppl. PI. p. 307 (1781) ; Masters, I.e., part. 



Sierra Leone.— No. 4968. 



GoLUXGO Alto. — Roadway near Menha-Lula ; fl. and fr. May 1855. 



