MALVACEAE. 79 



Plate 132. 



KOSTELETZKYA, Presl. 



Ovarii lociili unioviilati. Capsula depressa 5-sperma. Cse- 

 tera fere Hibisci. 



KosTELETZKYA, PresI, Rei. Haenk. 2. p. 130. t. 70. Endl. Gen. 5276. 

 Hibisci Sect. Pentaspermum, DC. Prodr. 1. p. 447 (excl. spec). Torr. 

 &. Gray, Fl. N. Am. 1. p. 236. 



Calyx involucellate with from seven to ten subulate or 

 setaceous persistent bracts, five-cleft ; the segments valvate in 

 aestivation. Petals 5, convolute in asstivation, obovate, 

 spreading, hypogynous, their claws united with the base of 

 the stamineal column. Stamens indefinite, monadelphous ; 

 the column slender, its naked apex five-toothed : filaments 

 short, emitted from nearly the whole length of the upper 

 half or more : anthers reniform, one-celled, two-valved. 

 Ovaries 5, combined into a five-celled compound ovary ; 

 the cells opposite the sepals : styles united into one nearly 

 to the summit, there five-cleft : stigmas depressed-capitate. 

 Ovule solitary and ascending from near the base of the 

 inner angle of each cell, nearly anatropous, the micropyle 

 inferior. 



Fruit a depressed-orbicular capsule, more or less five- 

 angled, coriaceous, five-celled, five-seeded, loculicidally five- 

 valved ; the valves alternate Avith the persistent sepals, bear- 

 ing the dissepiment on their middle, leaving only a short 

 central axis. Seed ascending, somewhat reniform ; the 

 crustaceous testa smooth. Embryo arcuate in sparing albu- 

 men : COTYLEDONS foliaccous, cordate, plaited and chrysaloid- 

 infolded : radicle inferior. 



Herbs, sometimes sutfruticose, with the alternate petioled 

 leaves hastate, sagittate, or the lower cordate, sometimes 

 lobed. Stipules setaceous, deciduous. Peduncles axillary, 



