50 DICOTYLEDONOUS. 



Genus V. HIBISCUS. 



Calyx consisting of 5 sepals, united at the base, with a 5- 

 toothed summit, surrounded by a many leaved involucel usually 

 distinct. Petals 5. Stigmas 5. Capsule 5-valved S-celled, 

 many seeded, dehiscence loculicidal. 



1. H. MoscHEUTOS. Stem sufTructicose, erecf, slightly tomentose, branch- 

 ing. Leaves ovate, serrate, acuminate, often with 3 acuminate lobeSj'tomen- 

 tose underneath. Flowers axillary, attached by a long pubescent peduncle 

 to the base of the petiole. Calyx persistent, pubescent ; involucel 1-5-leaved, 

 subulate, acute. Petals obovate, refuse. Styles exserted. Capsule ovate- 

 White, rose color, crimson at the center. %. Aug. — Sept. Blargins 



of ponds. 3-5 feet. 



2. H. ViRGiNicrs. Stem and leaves, tomentose. Leaves cordate-ovate, 

 acuminate, those on the middle of the stem 3-lobed. Flowers in paniculate 

 racemes, nodding. Calyx tomentose, the involucel 8 or 9 leaved, subulate. 

 Petals fringed and hairy on the outer surface. Capsules hispid, with acute 

 angles. 



Rose color. %> July — Sept. In wet soils. 2-4 feet. 



3. H. AcuLEATUS. Whole plant very scabrous, with minute recurved 

 prickles. Leaves, the lower ones cordate, and angular, upper ones palmately 

 3-5-lobed, the lobes obovate, dentate. Flowers axillary at the upper parts of 

 the branches. Calyx hispid, 5-lobed, each segment 3-ribbed. Petals hairy 

 on the outer surface. Capsule hairy. 



Yellow. %. June — Sept. In wet places. 3-6 feet. 



4. H. Incanus. Stem tall, minutely tomentose. Leaves ovate, acuminate, 

 obtusely serrate, tomentose on both surfaces. Flowers very large, axillary 

 sohtary, on peduncles jointed near the middle, confluent with the petiole. 



Yellow. 11-. July — Aug. Southern Geo. 3-5 feet. 



5. H. Carolinianus. Stem smooth, tall. Leaves cordate, acute, serrate, 

 acuminate, glabrous on both surfaces, sometimes obscurely 3-lobed. Flow- 

 ers axillary. Calyx slightly scabrous, involucel 12-leaved. Petals pubescent 

 on the inner surface. 



Purple. %. July— Sept. Raised by Elliott, from seed obtained from 

 Wilmington Island, Geo. 4-6 feet. 



6. H. Milttaris. Stem branching, glabrous. Leaves hastate, 3-lobed, 

 acuminate, serrate. Flowers solitary, axillary. Involucels 12-I4-Ieaved, in- 

 curved, hnear, subulate. Corolla tubular, campanulate, finely pubescent. 

 Capsule ovate S-valved, 5-celIed, glabrous. 



Rose color. %. July — Sept. Common on the banks of streams in the 

 middle country. 3-4 feet. 



7. H. Speciosus. Stem branching, glabrous. Leaves palmate, 5-parted, 

 alternate, cordate, lobes irregularly serrate, generally with colored veins. 

 pZowers solitary, axillar}', on peduncles jointed near the summit. Involucels 

 12-15-leaved, subulate. Petals 4-5 inches long, obovate, a little pubescent 

 near the base. Capsule glabrous, ovate, acute, obscurely angled. Seed pu- 

 bescent. 



Red. %. July— Sept. Southern Georgia and Florida. 4-8 feet. 



Remarks. — The Flowers of this genus are very showy, and though coarse, form a con- 

 spicuous and beautiful ornament of the Flower Garden. They are used for no other 

 purpose, than ornament, with a single exception. An' Egyptian s})ecies affords seeds, 

 which are employed in preparation of perfumery, on account of their peculiar odor, 

 resembling musk. 



Order XXXII. TILIACE^. 

 Sepals 4-5 deciduous, with a valvate aestivation. Petals 



