MALVACEAE— MALLOW FAMILY 



ROSE-OF-SHARON. SHRUBBY ALTH^A 



Hibiscus syriacus. 



Hibiscus, a classical name of unknown meaning. Althaea, 

 given in allusion to the supposed healing properties of the 

 species. 



An erect shrub, ten to twenty feet high, received from 

 Europe, but a native of Asia ; thoroughly acclimated in northern 

 gardens. 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, palmately three-nerved, two to 

 three and a half inches long, obovate or rhomboidal, almost 

 three-lobed. wedge-shaped at base, coarsely and irregularly ser- 

 rate, entire from middle to base : when full grown bright green, 

 and glabrous above, paler green beneath. In autumn they turn 

 a clear yellow, or fall without change, remaining on the branches 

 until late. 



Flowers. — August, September. Showy, abundant, looking 

 like hollyhocks, in color ranging through rose, scarlet and ma- 

 genta to white, perfect, solitary or two or three together, odor- 

 less, nectar-bearing. 



Calyx. — Five-lobed. surrounded by a whorl of slender, linear, 



pointed bractlets. persistent, valvate in bud. 



Corolla. — Petals rive, veiny, short-clawed, rose, scarlet, ma- 

 genta, white, often with an eye of different color from that of 



the petal, convolute in bud. 



Stamens. — Many, monadelphous in a column formed by the 

 union of the filaments, united at base with the claws of the 



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