260 FIBROUS SPECIES OF HIBISCUS. 
in the North-West of India in clarifying sugar. ‘The stems 
were cut when in flower by Dr. Roxburgh, and steeped imme- 
diately : the result of his experiments is given in p. 268. 
H. Sabdariffa, said to be so called from its Turkish name, 
while in the West Indies it is called Red Sorrel, and in the 
Madras territories rozelle and rouselle. It is cultivated in 
most gardens, because its calyxes as they ripen become fleshy, 
are of a pleasantly acid taste, and are much employed for making 
tarts, as well as an excellent jelly. Browne states that they 
are employed in the West Indies for making refreshing drinks. 
The stems having been cut when in flower, and the bark 
stripped off, and steeped immediately, display a mass of fibres 
in Dr. Roxburgh’s specimens, some of which are still in the 
India House, with the ultimate fibres of a fine silky nature. 
The name rouselle is said to be a corruption of oseiile. 
The dietetical uses of these species have been mentioned, in 
order to show, that if cultivated on account of their fibre, they 
would also be useful for other purposes. 
HH. strictus was a new species described by Dr. Roxburgh, 
and which seems to be a native of the Rajmahl Hills, with 
a straight stem of from 6 to 14 feet in height, and a very 
smooth bark. It thrives luxuriantly with little or no care; 
seed-time the beginning of the rains; it is in blossom about 
their termination, and the seed ripens in December and January, 
soon after which the plants perish. 
“Like many other of the Malvaceous tribe, the bark 
of this species abounds in flaxen fibres; but in none have 
I found so large a quantity, equally beautiful, long, glossy, 
white, fine, and strong, as in this. To these promising quali- 
ties may be added the luxuriant growth, and habit of the 
plant, rendering it an object deserving of every care and atten- 
tion, at least until the real worth of the material is fairly 
ascertained. 
“From several years’ experience, I find the best season for 
sowing the seed in Bengal, is just when the first rains begin, 
which is generally in May, in beds; and when the plants are 
about six inches high, transplant them out in rows, about nine 
inches asunder, and about as much from each other in the 
rows. In 1801, Thad forty square yards planted in this man- 
