Sida.] XXII. MALVACE^. 118 



however to keep it distinct, as the characters appear on the dried specimens to be 

 tolerably constant (Benth.). It is a small or slender, very much branched tomentose 

 undershrub, resembling the var. orata of S. corruyata in general characters, but 

 with much smaller leaves and very much smaller ilowers, on short slender 

 pedicels, the fruits not above 2 lines diameter, consisting of 5 to 8 tomentose 

 carpels, not furrowed at their points, and smooth or only very slightly wrinkled 

 on the back. 

 Hab.: Various localities. 



5. S. macropoda (long- footed), F. v. M. Herb.; Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 198. 

 An erect, branching shrub, densely clothed with a stellate tomentum, thick and 

 often yellowish on the branches, almost velvety on the leaves. Leaves ovate- 

 cordate, obtuse, 1 to 2in. long, crenate, thick and soft, deeply wrinkled above, 

 prominently veined underneath. Pedicels filiform, sometimes exceeding the 

 leaves. Calyx-lobes acuminate or acute, closed over the fruit or spreading. 

 Petals yellow, only shortly exceeding the calyx. Fruit 3 or 4 lines diameter, 

 with the radiating striae in the centre and the carpels wrinkled on the back as in 

 iS'. comir/ata , from which this species differs in stature, foliage, and the acute 

 calyx-lobes. 



Hab.: Various localities in the tropics, and Gulf of Carpentaria. 



Var. (?) cardiophylla, P. v. M. Tomentum more dense, but closer ; leaves shorter, and nearly 

 orbicular ; pedicels shorter. — Sturt's Creek, F, v. Mueller. This may possibly be a distinct 

 species, but the specimens are not sufficiently advanced to determine. In other specimens in 

 young bud only, these buds are sessile or nearly so ; the pedicel probably grows out rapidly 

 before the flower expands, and may sometimes remain very short. This will likely be met with 

 in the colony. — Benth. 



6. S. virgata (twiggy). Hook, in Mitch. Trop. Austr. 361 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 i. 194. This resembles at first sight, especially in the leaves, the .S'. ealyxhymenia 

 (an inland species, so far not been met with in Queensland), and in 

 some respects some narrow-leaved forms of 8. corrugatq, ; but the calyx 

 does not enlarge as in the former, and its lobes are not pbtuse as in the latter, 

 and the stellate tomentum is dense and soft, almost woolly, and often fulvous. 

 It appears to be an erect shrub, with long twiggy branches. Leaves shortly 

 petiolate, lanceolate, or oblong-linear, often exceeding lin., obtuse at the base, 

 denticulate, less tomentose above than underneath. Pedicels slender, but rarely 

 as long as the leaves. Calyx very tomentose, not prominently ribbed, the acute lobes 

 about as long as the cup. Petals yellow, twice as long as the calyx, varying from 

 3 to 4 lines. Fruit about 3 lines diameter, depressed, with the centre slightly 

 projecting. Carpels 6 to 8 or rarely more, their radiating summits scarcely 

 furrowed, wrinkled on the back, strongly reticulate on the sides. 



Hab.; On the Mara^oa, and other localities. 



7. S. cryphiopetala (petals hidden in the calyx), F. v. M. Fragm. iii. 4 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 194. A shrub, nearly allied to S. virgata, but the tomentum 

 longer and denser, almost woolly or floccose. Leaves ovate-lanceolate or cordate, 

 often 2in. long. Calyx densely woolly hirsute, the lobes attaining 3 or 4 lines, 

 including their long soft hirsute filiform points, exceeding the petals in the 

 specimens seen. Carpels 5 or more, wrinkled on the back, reticulate on the 

 sides, their summits forming a strongly projecting centre to the fruit. 



Hab.: Inland tropical parts. 



8. S. petrophila (found on rocks), F., v. 2[. in Linnm, xxv. 881 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Austr. i. 19i. A, hoary tomentose erect shrub of 2 to 4ft., with the habit, 

 foliage, and inflorescence of S. calxhymenia, but the flowers are not nearly so 

 broad, the unexpanded bud rather ovoid than .depressed-globular, the petals 

 longer than the calyx, and , the fruiting calyx not nearly so much enlarged, the 



