280 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS hibiscus 



across, and spotted or blotched with purple 

 at the base. H, miKtaris and H. palus- 

 tris are considered to be botanical varie- 

 ties of this. 



Culture d-c. as above for H. pal/astris. 



H. syriacus (AUhcea frutex). — A de- 

 ciduous Syrian shrub 6-8 ft. high, with 

 ovate wedge - shaped, 3 - lobed, toothed 

 leaves. Flowers in the type purple with 

 a crimson spot at the base of each petal. 



There are many varieties with colours 

 varying from pure white, such as totus 

 alhus, to deep blue, like cmlestis. There 

 are also several very fine double-flowered 

 varieties in various colours. 



Culture dc. as above. This makes a 

 beautiful flowering bush, and in the south 

 and west looks very handsome out of 

 doors. 



H. Trionum (H. africanus).— -Bladder 

 Ketmia. — A beautiftil hairy, branched 

 annual, about 2 ft. high, native of Africa, 

 S. Europe &c. Leaves heart-shaped, pal- 

 mately lobed; lobes linear. Flowers 

 yellow, 2-3 inches across, with a purple 

 centre, produced from July to September 

 and October. 



Culture dc. as above, p. 279. Seeds 

 of this handsome species may be 

 sown in gentle heat in March, or in the 

 open border in April and May in the 

 warmer parts of the country. The plants 

 prefer a light rich soil and sunny situa- 

 tions, with plenty of water in siunmer. 



Closely related to this species is H. 

 vesicarius (or H. grandiflorus) which has 

 more deeply lobed and toothed leaves, and 

 larger flowers. 



XXV. STERCULIACE^ 



A .natural order consisting of herbs, shrubs, or trees, with alternate or 

 rarely nearly opposite, entire, toothed,, or lobed leaves. Flowers regular, 

 hermaphrodite or one-sexed. Calyx gamosepalous, more or less deeply 

 5-lobed. Petals 5, hypogynous, free, or adnate to the base of the staminal 

 tube. Stamens often united at the base into a cylindrical or urn-shaped tube. 

 Ovary free, 2-5-celled. Fruit a dry capsule, or rarely a berry. 



This order contains over 40 genera and more than 500 species, mostly 

 natives of tropical regions. The following genus is the only one representing 

 the order in the open air in the British Islands. 



FREMONTIA. — A genus represented 

 by only one species : — 



F. californica. — A beautiful deciduous 

 Californian shrub, with brown stems 6-10 

 ft. high, and heart-shaped 5-7-lobed leaves, 

 hairy beneath ; the yo\mg shoots covered 

 with a rich reddish-brown tomentum, and 

 minute warts. Flowers in Jime, bright 

 yellow, about 2 in. across, solitary on short 

 stalks opposite the leaves. Calyx spread- 

 ing, bell-shaped, deeply 5-lobed, with a 

 depression at the base of each segment. 



Petals none. Stamen-tube 5-cleft, with 

 orange-red anthers. 



Culture and Propagatioii. — This 

 species thrives in a sandy loam, and should 

 have a position facing west or south-west, 

 but not too hot or dry. It may be increased 

 by cuttings in spring, under a bell glass m 

 gentle heat. When well rooted the plants 

 may be potted up singly and grown on 

 until they have become large enough for 

 planting in the outdoor garden. 



XXVI. TILIACEiE— Lime Tree or Linden Tree Order 



An order containing about 40 genera and over 300 species of trees and 

 shrubs, rarely herbs. Leaves alternate, or in a few species opposite or nearly 

 so, simple, penni nerved or palminerved, entire, toothed, or rarely lobed. 

 Stipules twin, usually small and deciduous, rarely large and persistent, or 

 absent altogether. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite, or rarely 1-sexed, axillary 

 or terminal, often cymulose. Sepals 5, rarely 3 or 4, free or connate. 

 Petals as many in number, or fewer, or absent, usually with a small pit at the 



