34 BOTANY OF SOCOTKA. 



9. Hibiscus sp. 



We have foliage leaves and twigs of another species of Hibiscus from 

 Socotra without flowers or fruit. We met with it in many parts of the island. 

 It is a small tree with leaves, which vary considerably in form, densely covered 

 with detachable trifurcate hairs. I have not been able to match our specimens 

 with any known species. It is not unlike II. Scotti and //. stenanthus, and falls, 

 according to Dr Masters, to whom I have shown the specimens, into the Rosa- 

 sinenis section of the genus. Our material being so incomplete, I have not 

 named this a species, but confine myself to giving a short description of our 

 specimens : — 



Arborescens ramulis ultimis tomentosis cum pilis trifurcatis interspersis ; follis longe petiolatis 

 deltoideis v. subrotundis palmatim 3-nerviis 2|-3| poll, longis 1-1| poll, latis crenato- 

 incisis basi truncatis pilis trifurcatis faciliter avulsis subtus dense vestitis, peti)lo sparsnii 

 griseo tomento tecto lamina duplolongiore ; stipulis liuearibus deciduis. 



Socotra. Abundant on the hill slope. B.C.S. n. 122. 



6. GOSSYPIUM. 



Gossypinm, Linn. Gen. n. 845 ; Bentb. et Hook. Gen. PL i. 209. 



A genus of a few species of shrubby plants, generally cultivated in the 

 tropics. 



Q. barbadense, Linn. Sp. 975 ; DC. Prod. i. 456 ; Mast, in Oliv. Flor. 

 Trop. Afr. i. 210, and in Hook. Flor. Brit. Ind. i. 347 ; Wight Illustr. t. 

 28, a and b. 



Socotra. Near habitations. B.C.S. 707. 



Distrib. Cultivated generally in the tropics. 



This is not, so far as I could discover, now cultivated in Socotra. 



Order XIY. STERCULIACE^. 



A large order dispersed over the old and new world, chiefly in the tropics, 

 but a few genera have extra-tropical representatives. Two genera occur in 

 Socotra, one spread all over the globe, though most abundant in tropical 

 Asia, the other an old world tropical genus extending to Australia. 



1. STERCULIA. 



Stcrcvlia, Linn. Gen. n. 1086 ; Benth. et Hook. Gen. PL i. 217. 



A considerable genus of the warmer regions of the globe, with its head- 

 quarters in tropical Asia. 



S. Triphaca, P. Br. PI. Jav. Ear. 228 ; Mast, in Oliv. Flor. Trop. Afr. i. 

 210. 



