MALVACEZ. 119 
are sometimes eaten in the country, as also those of Hibiscus grandi- 
florus Li, of ZT. liliaceus, the cooked leaves of several Mallows, of 
Napea levis L., of Sida rhombifolia L., and of several others. There 
exists in Hibiscus verrucosus, Sabdariffa L., and several others, a cer- 
tain acidity which causes the plant to be used in food, under the name 
of Guinea Sorrel (Oseille de Guinée). The lalo of Senegal is a parti- 
cular aliment, prepared by the negroes from the dried and pul- 
verized leaves of the Baobab. It is used daily in their food, 
and is at the same time a preventive remedy, inducing per- 
spiration. It is also said to cool the blood, to prevent affections of 
the intestines, the loins, &e. It is the same with the J/alvacee 
with edible flowers. In Brazil those of Adutilon esculentum are eaten 
with meat. In the Antilles and India, sauces and soups in daily use 
are made from buds and green fruit of the Gomdo, that is to say, Æibis- 
cus esculentus' or some allied’ species. They are said to be good 
for repairing exhausted strength, and the same virtue in a still 
higher degree has been accorded to the fruit of Durio, esteemed 
in the Moluccas as a powerful aphrodisiac. In tropical countries 
very various curative properties are ascribed to many of the M/ai- 
vacee. Sida indica li. is considered as stomachic and antiperiodic ; 
S. americana Li, hirta Li. and alnifolia Li, as diuretic and aperient ; 
S. carpinifolia Li, as emollient used topically to cure the stings 
of wasps, in Brazil to dissipate melancholy ; 8. mauritiana I. and 
lanceolata Revrz, as tonics and febrifuges ; S. viscosa Luér. as emol- 
lients in the Antilles. S. r/ombifolia derives from its properties its 
name of False Marsh-mallow or G. of the Indies.  7#espesia 
macrophylla is considered by the Javanese as an epidermic_ febri- 
fuge; the glutinous juice extracted in Tropical Asia from 7. 
populnea Corr. is esteemed as a sovereign remedy for all skin 
affections, contusions, &e., as is also a decoction of its bark. Pavonia 
odorata W. has a root used as a febrifuge, like the P. zeylanica Cav., 
an infusion of which is employed in Ceylon. P. diuretica A. S. H: 
derives its name from the use made of it in Brazil. P. coccinea 
Cay. has pretty flowers, an infusion of which is prescribed 

1 L., Spec., 980.—DC., Prodr., i, 450, n. ? Especially H. longifolius L. 
49 —Abelmoschus esculentus GUILLEM, & PERR. 3 Pl. Us. Bras., t. 53; Fl, Bras. Mer., i. 
(vulg. Okra, Gombaut, of the Antilles). 234.—ROSENTH., op, cit., 708, 
