Hibiscus.] tXll. MALVACEAE. 129 



20. K. vltifOliUB (vine-leaved), TAnn.: JXJ. Prod. i. 450 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 i. 216. A coarse, erect, divaricately-branched herb of several feet, in Indi& 

 usually shortly tomentose, more hispid in Africa, and in the Australian specimens 

 still more beset v?ith rigid hairs. Leaves broadly cordate, 2 to 3in. long and 

 broad, usually broadly 3 or 6-lobed and toothed, very densely and softly villous- 

 tomentose. Flowers rather large, pale-yellow with a purple centre, on short 

 pedicels, the upper ones forming a short dense leafy raceme. Bracteoles 7 to 10, 

 linear-subulate, shorter than the calyx. Calyx deeply divided into broadly 

 lanceolate lobes, often enlarging after flowering. Capsule depressed globular, 

 beaked in the centre, 5 to 8 lines diameter, hirsute with scattered hairs, the 5 

 acute angles raised into wings and transversely veined. Seeds glabrous. — F. v. 

 M. Fragm. ii. 114. 



Hab.: Keppel Bay, Percy Island, Dawson Eiver, Palm Islands. 



A very common species in E. India, extending into the warmer regions of Africa, and intro- 

 duced into the W. Indies, readily known by its winged capsules. — Benth. 



21. H. panduriformis (Fiddle-shaped), Burm. Fl. Ind. 151, t. 47,/. 2 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Avutr. i. 215. " Bee-allo," Mitchell Eiver, Palmer. A tall, coarse herb or 

 shrub, densely covered with a tomentum, usually thick and velvety on the upper 

 side of the leaves, closer and whiter on the under side and on the petioles and 

 branches, where it is often intermixed with long spreading bristly stellate hairs. 

 Leaves broad-cordate, 3 or 4in. long arid broad, or rarely narrow, usually 5- 

 angled or broadly lobed and irregularly crenate. Flowers yellow, on very short 

 pedicels in the axils of the upper reduced leaves, the side-branches often assum- 

 ing the appearance of several-flowered peduncles. Bracteoles 6 to 8, linear or 

 linear- spathulate, often as long as the calyx, more herbaceous than in most 

 species and always dilated above the middle. Calyx 7 to 9 lines long, densely 

 tomentose-hirsute, the lobes lanceolate, 1-nerved. Petals 1 to 2in. long, densely 

 hirsute where exposed in the bud. Capsule ovoid-globular, very hispid. Seeds 

 shortly puljescent or rarely glabrous. — DC. Prod. i. 455 ; F. v. M. Fragm. ii. 

 115 ; H. tubtdosus, Cav. Diss. 161, t. 68, f. 2 ; DC. Prod. i. 447. 



Hab.: Bockhampton. 



The species is widely spread over tropical Asia and Africa. Burmann's figure represents a 

 narrow-leaved form, not as yet found in Australia, and rare in India. — Benth, 



Natives of Mitchell Biver make the bark, after being cleaned and twisted, into bags for carrying 

 roots, game, (fee. — Palmer. 



22. H. Normani (after W. H. Norman), F. v. M. Fragm. iii. 4 ; Be^ith. Fl. 

 Auatr. i. 216. An undershrub, with apparently simple erect stems of about 1ft., 

 densely velvety-tomentose. Leaves petiolate, from ovate to lanceolate, acute or 

 obtuse, 2 to Sin. long, obscurely sinuate-toothed, tomentose on both sides, 

 especially underneath. Peduncles If to 2in. long. Involucre of 5 broadly ovate 

 or rhomboidal leafy bracteoles, nearly as long as the calyx, distinct or scarcely 

 united at the base. Calyx tomentose, about fin. long, deeply divided into ovate- 

 lanceolate 3-nerved lobes. Petals about twice as long or rather more, glabrous. 



Hab.: Palm Island, Pitzroy Island. 



23. K. Krichauffianus (after F. E. H. W. Krichauff), F. v. M. Rep. Babb. Exped. 

 7 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. 1. 216. An undershrub, with the habit and foliage of some 

 varieties of H. Sturtii, but the tomentum closer and whiter. Leaves ovate or 

 ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, 1 to Ifin. long, irregularly and usually rather deeply 

 crenate-to.othed. Flowers rather larger than in most forms of H. Stunii. Brac- 

 teoles linear-subulate, almost free, shorter than the calyx and sometimes very 

 short. Calyx very tomentose. Petals 1 to l|in. long. Seeds slightly pubescent. 



Hab.: Cooper's Creek. 



