140 GARDEN FLOWEKS. 



quite hardy ; the white species require some 

 protection. 



Several species of hibiscus are in bloom 

 during this and the next month. They are 

 very nearly allied to the mallow. The shrubby 

 kind, caUed Althaea frutex, (Hibiscus Syriaats,) 

 is very generally cultivated. A large number 

 of species of hibiscus are known to botanists, 

 and they are an interesting tribe of plants, not 

 only because of the beauty of their flowers, but 

 on account of the various uses to which they 

 are applied in the lands where they are native. 

 Abounding in the tropical regions, they are of 

 great value to the people of those lands, but 

 many of them, when transplanted to our country, 

 need protection from its climate. In the hotter 

 regions of the continent of Asia, in India and 

 Ceylon, some of the most beautiful species are 

 abundant. In Africa and South America they 

 axe also wild, and even in North America a few 

 are found: while in the West Indies, as well as 

 in other tropical islands, a gi'eat variety exist. 

 Like the mallow, they are remarkahle both for 

 the mucilage which they contain, and for the 

 fibres which their stalks yield on maceration. 

 One species, the esculent hibiscus, called ocId'O, 

 in the West Indies, is cultivated as an esculent 

 vegetable, and is also used for thickening soups ; 

 but the English residents rarely like it as diet. 

 In France it is planted for the pods, which are 

 gathered while green, and either eaten in soups^ 

 or pickled like cajiers, and they are often spiced 

 and made into a rich dish. In another species, 



