143 



ing the polymorphism observed in Hibiscus. Living plants were 

 obtained of various forms found in nature. Self-fertilized prog- 

 enies were grown to determine what forms breed true, and 

 cross-pollinations were made between various forms and between 

 various well recognized species in the attempt to reveal clews 

 as to their relationship and to the variability that may arise 

 in nature by natural crossing. 



These experiments have been prosecuted somewhat vigorously 

 and as extensively as space in the experimental plots at the 

 New York Botanical Garden would allow. The studies have 

 revealed several facts that admit of a preliminary report at this 

 time which may be of use to various observers in the field. The 

 writer wishes to obtain as full information as possible regarding 

 the regional and geographic variability of the species of Hibiscus 

 growing in the eastern United States, especially of the two 

 species H. Moscheutos and H. oculiroseus. Herbarium specimens 

 are not very satisfactory for the identification of flower color, 

 hence observations on this point should be made on living plants. 

 In correspondence with persons who have very kindly made 

 field observations for the writer, it had been a source of difficulty 

 that there are no standard descriptions of forms. It is hoped 

 that the following descriptions will be of use in this particular. 

 More complete taxonomic descriptions of any that may be found 

 to be species are reserved until later. 



Hibiscus Moscheutos 



The description of the general characteristics of this species 

 may be given as presented in the second edition of the Illustrated 

 Flora of the northern United States and Canada, by Britton and 

 Brown. 



"Erect, 4°-7° high, forming numerous cane-like stems from a 

 perennial root. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 3^-7' long, 

 cordate or obtuse at the base, acute or acuminate at the apex, 

 the lower or sometimes all lobed at the middle, palmately veined, 

 dentate or crenate, densely white stellate-pubescent beneath, 

 green and glabrous or slightly stellate above; petioles 1'-^' long; 

 flowers 4'-7' broad, pink, clustered on stout pedicels at the 

 summits of the stems; peduncles often adnate to the petioles; 



