(jg 'I HALAMI FLORAE. 



ones 3-lobate wedge-shaped at the base, flowers sessile, 

 involucellum monophyllous 12-toothed. 



Swartz, Obs. 269. Cav. diss, III. t. 198. f. 1 De Cand. 

 Prod. I. 453. 



HAB. Cultivated. 



FL. -Autumn. 



A suffruticose herbaceous plant. The stem, branches, 

 petioles, and nerves of the leaves, as also the peduncles and ex- 

 ternal floral coverings, are of a blood-red colour. All parts of 

 the plant are more or less acid to the taste. The Calyces and 

 involucella are thick and leathery or fleshy, and form, when 

 boiled with sugar, an agreeable acidulated conserve ; or they 

 may be made into tarts. An infusion also may be prepared 

 from them, known by the name of Sorrel-drink, forming a re- 

 freshing beverage. Hernandez states that two drachms of the 

 root act as a gentle laxative. The fibres of the stem may be 

 made into cordage. 



7. Hibiscus elatus. Mountain Mahoe. 

 Leaves roundish-cordate very en tire hoary-pubescent 

 beneath, peduncles short 1 -flowered. 



Malva arborea folio rotundo, Sloane, I. 95. t. 134. f. 2 and 3. 

 Hibiscus arboreus, Browne, 284. H. elatus, Swartz, Fl. 

 Ind. Occ. 1218. 



HAB. Lower hills, and plains in the interior of the Island. 



FL. January March. 



A lofty tree, 50-60 feet in height, with the bark smooth, 

 and branches spreading. Leaves roundish, cordate, abruptly 

 acuminate, 5 7 -nerved, minutely and distantly stellato-puberu- 

 lous above, hoary and tomentulose beneath: petioles elongated: 

 a glandulose linear slit near the base of the mid-rib of the older 

 and larger leaves. Stipules large, amplexicaul at the base, 

 oblongo-ovate, acute, puberulous, deciduous. Peduncles axil- 

 lary, solitary, 1 -flowered. Flowers large, of a purplish saffron 

 colour. Involucellum 10-fid; divisions erect, acute. Calyx an 

 inch in length, 5-partite for more than half the length. Petals 

 nearly 3 inches in length, oblong, oblique, rounded at the apex, 

 thickish and somewhat leathery, longitudinally veined, minutely 

 stellato-puberulous. Column of the stamens of the same length 

 as the petals, 5-grooved, subquinquedentate at the apex : anthers 

 yellow, on short capillary pedicels, arranged along the angles of 

 the column, leaving only about an inch at the base vacant. 

 Ovary rotundo-conical, 5-sided, sericeo-pubescent : style in- 

 crassated towards the stigmata, which are 5, of a deep purple 

 colour, and pubescent with capitate hairs. Capsule globular, 

 tomentose, 5-celled, 5-valved. 



This is a lofty tree with a straight stem, and affords a 



