THE HOLLYHOCK AND COTTON FAMILY. 385 



In the coloration of the flowers, this variety differs essentially 

 from the three other varieties of Lagerstrcemia at present in 

 cultivation, and forms a fourth type, not less free-flowering and 

 not less remarkable than the others, in a genus which up to 

 the present has exhibited few variations. In this respect it is 

 a valuable acquisition, for few plants flower more splendidly 

 than the Lagerstroemias. 



THE HOLLYHOCK AND COTTON FAMILY (Malracea). 



A wall-defined group of herbaceous plants, annuals, shrubs, 

 or trees, mostly natives of the tropics and sub-tropical regions. 

 In Europe they are represented by Mallows (Malva) ; and from 

 one species of Althcea, A. rosea, all the lovely forms of our 

 garden Hollyhock have originated. The most important plants, 

 from an economic point of sight, are the different species and 

 varieties of Gossypium, from the seed-pods of which the cotton 

 of commerce is obtained. The following are the principal 

 genera in this group : Althcza, Lavatera^ Malva, Malvastrum, 

 Sida, Abutilon, Malvaviscus, Abdmoschus, Hibiscus, and Gossyp- 

 ium. As a rule, seeds are freely produced by nearly all the 

 plants in the order, and these germinate readily if sown as soon 

 as ripe the hardy species in a cold frame, and the tender or 

 tropical kinds in heat. On the other hand, some species, as 

 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, very rarely produce seeds even in India. 

 Mr W. Williamson of Belair, Dulwich, has however received 

 seeds of this plant, ripened in Devonshire, from which young 

 plants were obtained. 



Abutilon. A well-known genus of greenhouse plants, with 

 cordate or palmate foliage and drooping bell-shaped flowers, 

 A. venosum, A. striatum, A. braziliense, A. Darwinii, and 

 others, being well-known examples. All the species are readily 

 multiplied by seeds and cuttings, or by grafting the choice 

 variegated kinds on A. striatum as a stock. Several beautiful 

 hybrid- or seminal forms have been raised in Continental 

 gardens, one of the best of these being the pure white A. 

 " Boule de Neige," which flowers very freely in the open air in 

 summer and in a warm conservatory in winter. This plant 

 somewhat resembles the old Sida globiflora (see 'Bot Mag.,' 

 t. 2821), which was introduced to our gardens from the 

 Mauritius as long ago as 1827. By hybridising this plant 

 with A. Darwinii, a new and very attractive race might 

 possibly be produced. Hybrid Abutilons have frequently 

 been raised in Continental gardens, but I can find no record 



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