MALVACEAE 315 



Species about 35, mostly widely distributed in the tropics, 3 in the Phil- 

 ippines. 



1. Capsule globose, not beaked. _ _ 1. C. capaularis 



1. Capsule elongated, beaked. 



2. Capsule 6- to 8-ribbed or winged, beak 3-fid 2. C. acutangulus 



2. Capsule cylindric, 10-ribbed, beak entire 3. C. olitorius 



1. C. CAPSULARis L. Pasao, Pasao na bilog (Tag.) ; Jute. 



An erect, branched, glabrous, annual herb, 1 to 2 m high, the stems 

 usually purplish. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 5 to 12 cm long, slenderly 

 acuminate, base rounded, tailed, margins sharply serrate; stipules linear, 

 5 to 8 mm long. Flowers axillary, few in each axil, about 4 mm long, the 

 sepals often purplish, the petals yellow. Capsules globose to globose- 

 obovoid, about 1 cm in diameter, longitudinally ridged, prominently rugose, 

 muricate, 5-valved. 



In open, low grass lands and waste places, fl. Oct.-Jan., but never cul- 

 tivated here; widely distributed in the Philippines, but probably introduced. 

 A native of India, now wild or cultivated in many other tropical countries. 



2. C. ACUTANGULUS Lam. 



A low, diffusely branched, suffrutescent annual, usually less than 0.5 m 

 high, the branches elongated, often spreading along the surface of the 

 ground, the stems reddish-brown, somewhat hairy. Leaves oblong-ovate, 

 finely toothed, acute, baise ^rounded or slightly cordate, usually 2-tailed. 

 Flowers axillary, yellow, about 6 mm long. Capsule 2 to 3 cm long, 4 to 6 

 mm thick, narrowly oblong, prominently longitudinally 6- to 8-ridged or 

 winged, apex with 3 or 4, erect or divergent beaks. (Fl. Filip. pi. Hi.) 



In open v^aste places, fl. Aug.^an.; throughout the Philippines, but 

 probably introduced. Tropical Asia to Malaya and Africa; also in the West 

 Indies. 



8. C. OLITORIUS L. Tagabang, Pasao (Tag.) ; Jute. 



An erect, branched, glabrous or nearly glabrous suffrutescent annual, 1 

 to 1.5 m high. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 5 to 12 cm long, acuminate, base 

 tailed, marg^ins toothed. Flowers axillary, about 6 mm long, the petals 

 yellow. Capsules elongated, cylindric, 10-ribbed, 3 to 3.5 cm long, 3- or 

 6-valved, valves with transverse partitions between the seeds, beaked. 



In open, usually damp or wet lands, fl. Oct.-Jan.; widely distributed in 

 the Philippines, but probably introduced. A native of India, now found in 

 most tropical countries. 



84. MALVACEAE (Hibiscus or Gomamela Family) 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, rarely scandent. Leaves simple, alternate, and 

 with the herbaceous parts often stellate-pubescent; stipules free, sometimes 

 caducous. Bracteoles 3 or more, whorled at the base of the calyx, or 

 wanting. Flowers axillary or terminal, solitary or panicled, regular, perfect. 

 Sepals 5, free or connate. Petals 5. Stamens jnany, rarely few, the 

 filaments connate into a staminal-tube which is more or less adnate to the 

 base of the petals, the anthers various. Ovary 2- to many-celled, entire 

 or lobed, of 2 to 5 or more carpels arranged in a whorl around a central 

 axis. Fruit of dry cocci separating from the axis, or capsular and locu- 

 licidal. 



