220 
nearly globular, blunt pod, and its calyx-lobes are triangular- 
ovate, about as broad as long. The crimson-eyed one has an 
ovoid pod with along point, and its calyx-segments are triangu- 
lar-lanceolate, nearly twice as long as broad. I propose that it 
shall bear the botanical name HIBISCUS OCULIROSEUS, inasmuch as 
the name a/éus, which the gardeners have applied to it, cannot be 
maintained on account of the Azdzscus aléus, an East Indian spe- 
cies, previously named by Wallich. 
The plant was introduced into cultivation by Mr. Wm. F. 
Bassett, of Hammonton, N. J., and the circumstances of its dis- 
covery are recorded in the following extracts from a letter written 
by him to Mr. Geo, V. Nash: 
“Replying to your queries, I found the first plant of our Hi- 
biscus Crimson Eye in a triangular marsh, with the N. J. & Sea- 
shore Railroad on one side and public roads on the other two, 
a little below Absecon Railroad Station, some years ago (prob- 
ably 20 or more years, I made no record, and do not recollect). 
As you may know, Azbiscus Moscheutos makes roots from the 
new stems and I pulled two of these while in flower and cut bark 
and wrapped the roots, bringing them home in my travelling bag. 
They were planted at some distance from any others and very 
unexpectedly I found them to come true from seed and we have 
raised and sold a great many thousands of them. Some three or 
four years since, in an excursion to Tuckahoe we found that a 
large per cent. of the A/discus Moscheutos which were growing in 
the marshes there (perhaps one half) were of the same color as 
our Crimson Eye but most of them had smaller flowers. For 
some years after I first got up a stock of it I found no sale for it 
but my oldest son by persistent advertising succeeded in creating 
a demand and it is now one of the standard hardy plants with 
increasing sale.” 
The accompanying plates illustrate the differences in pods and 
calyx of the two species. (See Plates XVII. and XVIIL) 
N. L. Britton, 
