74 MALLOW FAMILY. 



14. HIBISCUS, HOSE-MALLOW. (Anciem name, of obscure origin.) 

 Flowers showy, usually large, in summer and autumn. 



* Tall slirtilts <ir ei'cti trct-s, erotics. 



H. Syriacus, TRKK II. or Snuri'.Hv AI.TH.*:A, of gardens and grounds, 



common, native of the Levant : nearly smooth, with wedge-ovate and 3-lobed 

 leaves, and short-peduncled flowers in their axils, in autumn, about 3' broad, 

 purple, rOSe-OOlor, white, <&<., often double. 



H. Rosa-Sinensis. CHINA II. or ROSK OK CHINA. Cult, in conserva- 

 tories, from Hast Indies (where the splendid corollas, which stain black, are used 

 to black shot's) : very smooth, with bright green ovate and pointed somewhat 

 toothed leaves, and verv showv flowers on slender peduncles, 4' or 5' broad, 

 scarlet-red (rarely rose-purple or even white), often double. 



# # Herbs, with persistent and regular 5-falx-d t-ali/.r, and a slturt pot.!. 

 f- Wild spcciis, />tit s'unrtiiitfs rn/ti rated, ta/l and lar</r. ^/ 



H. COCCineuS, GRKAT RED II. or KOSK-MAI.I.OW. Marshes from Caro- 

 lina S. ; very smooth, 4 - 7 high, with leaves 5-partcd or deeply cleft into 

 long lanceolate and taper-pointed divisions, and bright-red corolla 6'- 11' broad, 

 the petals narrowed below. 



H. militaris, HALIJKUD-LKAVKD R Low grounds from Pennsylvania 

 nnd Illinois S. ; smooth, 3 -4 high, with ovate or bean-shaped toothed or 

 3-lobed leaves, some of them halberd-shaped, and slender-peduneled flowers, 

 with inflated calvx, and flesh-colored corolla 4'-;V broad. 



H. MoschsutOS, SWAMP R. Common in brackish marshes and up the 

 larger rivers ; 3 - 7 high, soft-downy ; the ovate pointed and often 3-lobed 

 leaves hoary beneath, generally smooth above ; peduncles slender ; corolla 4' - 6' 

 broad, pale rose or white, with or without a darker centre ; pod smooth. 



H. grandiflbrus, LAI:C;I-;-FL. R. Swamps, from Illinois and Carolina S. ; 

 like the last, but leaves soft-downy both sides, and pod velvety-hairy. 



H. aculeatUS, PRICKLY or Rou<;n R. Swamps only S. ; rough with 

 stilt' bristles and bristly points, 2 - 6 high ; leaves 3-5-cleft and the divisions 

 mostly toothed ; flowers short-peduneled ; leaves of the involucre often forked ; 

 corolla yellow with a purple centre, 4' broad ; pod bri>tly. 



*- - Exotic low species, in gardens or cultivated grounds. 



H. Tribnum, BLADDKK KKTMIA or FLOWER-OF-AN-HOUK. Rather 

 hairy, l-2 high, with the leaves toothed, or the upper 3-partcd into lanceolate 

 lobes, the middle lobe much longest; calvx inflated and bladdery ; corolla about 

 2- broad, sulphur-yellow with a blackish eye, open only in midday sunshine. 



# # # Herbs, with calyx splitting down one side, and (/curra/li/ failing off at once, 

 and with long or narrow pyramidal or angled ftod : natir<s <>/ ' J'^ast IndiiK. 



H. escul6ntU8, OKRA or GUMBO. Nearly smooth, with rounded heart- 

 shaped f)-lobcd toothed leaves, greenish-yellow flowers on slender peduncle (invo- 

 lucre falling early), and narrow poils :}' or 4' long, which are very mucilaginous, 

 and when green cooked and eaten, or used to thicken M>ups : cult. S. 



H. Man i hot. Smoothiah, with leaves 5 7-parted into long narrow divis- 

 ions ; the large and showy corolla pale vello\v with a dark eve ; the leaves of 

 the involucre hairy and soon tailing off : introduced or cult. S. W. 2/ 



15. GOSS^PIUM, COTTON. (Nsinir given by Piiny, from the Arabic.) 

 Plants now diffused over warm countries, most valuable for the wool on the 

 seeds : the species much mixed up. 



G. herbaceum, COMMON COTTON. Cult. S. Leaves with ."> >hort and 

 roundish lobes ; petals pale yellow or turning rose-color, purple at base. i 



G. Barbad6nse, BARBADOEB <>K SI-.A-NI.AND c. Cult, on the coast s. 



Inclining to be shrubhv at base ; branches black-dotted ; leaves with ."> longer 

 Ianee-o\ate and taper pointed lobes; leaves of the involucre with very long and 

 slender teeth ; petals yello\\i>h or whitish with purple ba-e. 



G. arbbreum, TKKK C. Cult. S., only for curiosity, has 5-7 nearly 

 lane(;olate and taper-pointed lobes to the leaves, leaves of involucre slightly 

 toot bed, and a purple corolla with a darker centre. 



