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The stalks macerated in water, yield a pretty strong hemp, 

 and the plant, like other mallows, is emollient. 



109. Malachra capitata, L. — Pond Mallows. 



This prickly plant is frequent about ponds, and grows to 

 two feet high. The stem is as thick as one's finger, and fur- 

 nished with a vast number of downy prickles, as likewise are 

 the leaves. The blossoms grow on the top of the plant, are 

 small, numerous, and pale red ; the seeds are heart-shaped. 

 This plant is very mucilaginous, and no doubt possessed of 

 the virtues of the mallow tribe. 



A kind of flax is obtained from the bark. 



110. Hibiscus elatus, Sw. — Mahoe Tree. 



The Mahoe tree delights in moist soils, where it rises to a 

 great height, and considerable thickness, sending off many 

 branches, well shaded with broad leaves, of a lively green 

 colour. 



The blossoms are large, and their petals lap over each 

 other, agreeably to the motion of the sun. Some of these are 

 red, others yellow or mixed. 



The pods are of the size of a walnut ; when ripe, they 

 split open, like a star, and drop many black heart-shaped 

 seeds. 



The timber is only used in staves and heading for sugar 

 hogsheads, being soft, porous, and of a green colour, besides 

 smelling strongly of balsam Capivi. 



The inner bark of the young trees and shoots is stripped 

 off, and twisted into ropes for plantation use. If these are 

 macerated in water, a shining hemp is obtained of consider- 

 able strength. 



