MALVACEAE. (MALLOW FAMILY.) 57 



and hoary beneath, rough above, longer than the petioles ; involucel of 5 - 6 

 ovate leaves, which are slightly united at the base ; carpels obovate, awnless, 

 strongly reticulate. South Georgia, collected by Leconte. Stem 4 - 5 high. 

 Leaves I 1 ' long. Flowers large, pale red. 



8. KOSTELETZKYA, Presl. (HIBISCUS, L. in part.) 

 Capsule depressed, the cells 1-seeded. Otherwise as in Hibiscus. 



1. K. Virginica, Presl. Rough-hairy ; stem erect, stout, branching ; 

 lower leaves ovate, cordate, serrate, mostly 3-lobed, the upper ones narrower 

 and usually entire; flowers (purple) in terminal racemes. Var. ALTHE^EFOLIA. 

 ( Hibiscus althecefolius, ShuttL ) Densely stellate-pubescent and somewhat hoary ; 

 leaves all undivided, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, unequally toothed- 

 serrate j racemes dense-flowered ; capsule hirsute. Var. SMILACIFOLIA. (Hi- 

 biscus smilacifolius, ShuttL) Stem more slender, smoothish below; leaves all 

 hastate, with lanceolate serrate lobes ; racemes few-flowered. Marshes and low 

 grounds near the coast, Florida and northward (the varieties near Manatee, 

 South Florida, RugeL). July - September. 1J. Stem 2 -4 high. Flow- 

 ers l|'-2' wide. 



9. HIBISCUS, L. ROSE-MALLOW. 



Involucel many-leaved or many-cleft, and, like the calyx, persistent. Stigmas 

 5, peltate or capitate. Capsule globose or oblong, 5-celled, loculicidally 5- 

 valved, many-seeded. Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with petioled stipulate leaves, 

 and large showy flowers, on axillary peduncles. 



* Leaves of tfie involucel forked. 



1. H. aculeatus, Walt. Muricate-hispid ; leaves round-cordate, divided 

 into 3-5 coarsely toothed and spreading lobes, the upper ones narrower and 

 mostly entire ; flowers yellow, with a purple centre, short-peduncled ; involucel 

 10- 12-leaved ; capsule hispid ; seeds smooth. Margins of swamps and ponds, 

 Florida to South Carolina, and westward. July. )J. Stems 2 - 6 high. 

 Flowers 4' wide. 



* * Leaves of the involucel entire. 

 *- Perennial herbs : stipules deciduous. 



2. H. Moscheutos, L. Tomentose; leaves broadly ovate, acuminate, 

 toothed-serrate, mostly 3-lobed above the middle, rounded or slightly cordate at 

 the base, hoary beneath ; peduncles often partly adnate to the petioles ; flowers 

 white or pale rose-color with a crimson centre; seeds smooth. Ponds and 

 marshes, Georgia, northward and westward. July. Stems 3 - 5 high. 

 Leaves 3' -5' long. Flowers 4' - 5' wide. 



3. H. incanus, Wendl. Leaves lanceolate and ovate-lanceolate, not lobed, 

 slightly cordate, acuminate, finely serrate, hoary on both sides ; flowers pale 

 yellow with a crimson centre, often umbelled ; peduncles mostly free from the 

 petioles ; capsule and seeds smooth. Ponds and marshes, Florida to South 

 Carolina, and westward. June and July. Stems 2 - 5 high. Leaves 3' - 6' 

 long. Flowers 6' - 8' wide. 



