344 
NOTES ON MALVAVISCUS. 
By Epmunp G. Baxer, F.L.S. 
Cartas J. Donnet Saigu, in Primitie Flore Costaricensis,* 
enumerates five species of Malvaviscus as occurring in Costa Rica, 
among them M. arboreus Cay. As I am doubtful whether some of 
the plants referred here are correctly so placed, I have endeavoured 
to compare, as far as possible, the material upon which this species 
is founded, and also to see authentic specimens of the several 
varieties which have been made by Schlechtendal and Grisebach. 
Malvaviscus arboreus Cay. Diss. iii. 181, t. 48, fig. 1, is founded 
on Cavanilles’ description and plate and the following synonyms:— 
M. arborescens flore miniato clauso, Dill. Elth. 210, t.170, f. 108. 
Hibiscus foliis cordatis, crenatis, angulatis lateralibus extimis 
_ parvis, caule arboreo, Hort. Cliff. 849. 
Hibiscus frutescens foliis angulatis, cordatis, acuminatis, petalis 
ab uno latere auritis. Browne, Jam. 284. 
Alcea indica arborea, folio molli, fore amplo eleganter coccineo. 
luk. t. 257, fig. 1. 
i ’ 
Cavanilles’ diagnostic phrase is “ M. caule arboreo, foliis cor- 
i imen 
datis, crenatis, acuminatis, tomentosis.” and there is a spec 
° . . ’ 
_> Matvaviscus arporeus Cav. Diss. iii. 181, t. 48, fig. 1; DC. 
Prod. te 445 (1824), in part. M. arborescens, &c., Dill. Elth. l.¢ 
Alcea indica, &e., luk. Alm, i.c. Hibiscus Malvaviscus L. Sp. Pl. 
ed. 1, 694 (1758), in part. Achania mollis Aiton, Hort. Kew. ed. 1, 
il. 459 (1789). Malvaviseus mollis DC. Prod. i. 445 (1824). Leaves 
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DC. is due, I think, to some slight misconception, as-in the type of 
me it is very nearly but not quite double the length of the 
M. mollis DO. only differs-from the specimen i 4 
; : specimen in Plukenet's 
herbarium by the leaf-lobes being rather more divaricate and rather 
more softly tomentose. The type comes from Mexico. 
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* Tome ii. fase. 1 (1898), p. 45. 
t Plukenet’s and Aiton’s types are in the National Herbarium, 
