PLAXrS OF THE PUyjAB. 



1025 



Herbs, ekect, with Alternate Stipulate Lobed Leaves. 



Petals United. 



Hibiscus Gibsoni, medim-size, perennial, branches bristly or prickly ; 



Malvace.e. leaves 1-3 in., deeply divided into lobes, lobes 



F. B. L i. 339. oblong-lanceolate, toothed, smooth or hairy, stalk 



The Plains. as long as the blade ; flowers twice the length of 



the bracteoles, yellow with a purple centre or all 

 purple, on solitary axillary stalks, bracteoles un- 

 united, linear, prickly, curving over the calyx, 

 sepals united below, lanceolate, staminal tube half 

 covered with anthers, capsule ovoid, pointed, valves 

 bristly, se«ds soft with scattered hairs ; in other 

 points like the last species. 



Hibiscus Sabdariffa, 

 lozelie or Red sorrel, 



Patwa. 

 Malvaoe^. 

 F. B. I. i. 340. 



large, annual, smooth, stem purplish ; leaves 2-3 

 in., wedge-shaped at the base, usually 3-5 lobed, 

 lower leaves are sometimes not lobed, lobes lanceo- 

 late or oblong, glandular beneath, toothed, stalk 2 

 in., reddish, stipules ^ in. long, linear, short 

 The Plains cultivated, pointed ; flowers 2f in. diam., yellow or purple on 

 solitary axillary short stalks, thickened at the top, 

 bracteoles 8-12, united to the base of the calyx, 

 calyx enlarging in fruit, sepals united below the 

 middle into a fleshy purple cap, bristly, capsule 

 ovoid, pointed, hairy, shorter than the calyx, seeds 

 nearly glabrous, kidney-shaped ; otherwise like the 

 last species. This plant is cultivated for the sake 

 of the edible calyx, from which an acid jelly is 

 prepared ; it is used as a preventive of scurvy. 

 The stems supply a strong silky fibre. 



Hibiscus ficulneus, 



Malvace.e. 

 F. B. I. i. .340. 

 The Plains. 



very large, annual, branches\isually covered with 

 broad-bas.ed sharp prickles ; leaves 2^-4 in., 5-7- 

 lobed, with wide sinuses between the lobes, lobes 

 broad at the tip, narrow at the base, unequally 

 toothed stalks 2|-4 in., stipules \ in. long, linear, 

 hairy, soon falling off ; flowers 1-2 in. diam., white 

 with a pink centre, on stalks, \ the length of the 

 leaf stalks, theupper^in a leafless raceme, bracteoles 

 4-6, broad, leafy, sepals united nearly entirely, tips 



3D 



