114 XXII. MALVACE^. [Sida. 



ovate-lanceolate lobes not exceeding 3 lines in length, not half so broad as in S. 

 cali/xhijinenia, and of a much thicker consistence. Fruit dbpressed, tomentOse, 

 wrinkled on the circumference and furrowed between the carpels as in S. calyx- 

 hymenia, but the carpels are usually about 7. 

 Hab.; Inland. 



9. S. subspicata (somewhat spicate), F. v. M. Herb.; Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 

 195. An erect shrub, sparingly tomentose and green, or densely tomentose like 

 8. virgata and §. macropoda, but at once known by the inflorescence. Leaves 



■from cordate-ovate to lanceolate, 1 to 2in. long, obtuse, crenate, cordate or 

 rounded at the balse, slightly wrinkled above, with the veins prdminent under- 

 neath, scabrous, velvety or densely totnentose. Flowers srriall, nearly sessile, 

 clustered or rarely solitary, the upper clusters forming often an irregular terminal 

 spike, with few small floral leaves. Calyx not ribbed, the lobes acute, at least as 

 long as the tube and closing over the fruit, but not covering it. Petals nearly 

 twice as long. Stamens often under 10. Fruit nearly globular, but grooved 

 between the carpels ; carpels 5 or 6, tomentose, reticulate on the side, but not 

 wrinkled on the back, and not acuminate. 

 Hab.: Common throughout the colony. 



10. S. pleiantha (numerous flowers), F. v. M. Herb.; Benth, Fl. Austr. i. 

 195. A shrub or undershrub, with elongated branches, green or hoary with a 

 loose stellate tomentum, sometimes floccose. Leaves petiolate, the smaller ones 

 nearly orbicular, -J-in. long, the larger ones ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1 to 2in., 

 toothed, rounded or scarcely cordate at the base. Flowers small, clustered several 

 together, the pedicels 2 to 4 lines long, not articulate. Calyx broadly oampanulate, 

 when in flower about 1^ line long, with ovate-acute tomentose lobes, somewhat 

 enlarged when in fruit, the lobes broad, herbaceous, glabrous, and connivent over 

 the fruit, with projecting undulate sinuses. Stamens often not more than 10. 

 Fruit depressed-orbicular, about 3 lines diameter, nearly glabrous, not wrinkled, 

 but strongly grooved between the carpels. Carpels 7 to 10, not reticulate on 

 the sides. 



Hab.: Peak Downs, F. v. Mueller. 



11. S. spinosa (see note below for derivation), Linn.; DC. Prod. i. 460; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. i., 196. An annual or sometimes perennial, and woody at the 

 base, with the habit and inflorescence of the narrow-leaved forms of S. rhowhifolia, 

 but the whole plant, including both sides of the leaves, whitish with a minute 

 tomentum, which is soft and more dense on the calyx. Leaves from ovate to 

 lanceolate. Carpels almost always 5 only, more erect and less readily detached 

 than in 8. rhombifolia, often slightly reticulate, awhless or with short awns. — 

 A. Gray, Gen. 111. t. 123. , 



Hab,: Tropical parts. 



The species is not uncommon in tropical Asia, more rare in America. It derives its name 

 from the stipules in falling off often leaving a prominent tubercular base, more distinct in this 

 than in any other species, although the character is even here not constant. 



121 S. rhombifolia (name frpm form of leaf), Linn.: DC. Prod. i. 462 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 196. A perennial or iindershrub, very variable in stature, 

 sometimes tall and erect with the larger leaves ovate and Sin^ long, the 

 Australian specimens more generally representing the more spreading forms, with 

 rigid virgate minutely tomentose branches, and small narrow leaves, rarely 

 exceeding lin., varying from ovate-lanceolate to narrow-lanceolate, or from 

 nearly obovate to oblong-euneate, always shortly petiolate, toothed, nearly 

 glabrous above and more or less whitened underneath with a short tomentum. 

 Pedicels mostly longer than the petiole and sometimes as long as the leaf, 



