82 



DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



in the North is the extensively cultivated summer-flowering Shrhebt 

 Althea, usually called 'Rose of Sharon' (56) — Hibfecus syriacus, — 

 with tapering-based more or . less 3-lobed leaves. There are scores of 

 named varieties with single or double flowers of many colors, — white, 

 pink, red, purple, and variegated. 



In southern California there is in cultivation another tall shrubby species 

 from Australia, Green Kdrrajong or Queensland Sorrel Tree — Hibis- 

 cus heterophyllus, — with abundant while flowers having a deep crimson 



Fig. 56. — Rose of Sharon. 



Fig. 57. — Swamp Rose Mallow. 



center. These flowers are large, 3 to 4 inches long, with hairy calyx and 

 cai^sule. The leaves are, as the name indicates, exceedingly variable in 

 form : li^iear, lanceolate, oblong, and with a tendency to 3-lobing in the 

 broader forms. These leaves are 5 to 6 inches long and in some varieties 

 white beneath, tliough usually green on both sides. 



Besides these two shrubby species, we include a tall swamp-growing 

 hardy herb, Swamp Rose Mallow(57) — Hibiscus Moschetitos. Itgrows 

 3 to 7 feet high, has white or pink flowers 4 to 8 inches broad often witli 

 a crimson center, in summer. The ovoid capsule is 1 inch long and remains 

 on the plant tliroughthe winter. The leaves are large, ovate, notch-edged, 

 sometimes slightly 3-lobed and almost velvety beneath. 



[Seeds; twig cuttings.] 



