Hibiscus.] MALVACE^. 87 



•cells 2ovuled ; styles 5 ; stigma capitate. Capsule loculicidally 5- 

 valved, valves opposite the sepals. Seeds reniform, ascending, 1 in 

 each cell. 



S. incana, Cav. Diss, ii, 53, t. 35, f 3 ; F. B. I., i, 334, S. rupestris, Edgew 

 ■Cat. Banda PI. 441. 



leaves on long stalks, denticulate; stipules caducous. Peduncles shortev 

 than the petioles, ultimately deflesed. Petals ohovate, yellow or violet, 

 exceeding the calyx, Seeds pilose, black-dotted. 



Bundelkhand (Edgeworth). Distkib. : Karachi ; also in Arabia, 

 Abyssinia and Nubia. I have seen no specimens from Bundelkhand and 

 there appears to be some doubt regarding Edgew orth's locality. 



11. HIBISCUS. Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. i. 334. 



Herbs, shrubs or trees. Leaves stipulate, usually more or less 

 palmately lobed. Inflorescence axWhiy. Sracteoles 5 or more, vavelj 

 fewer or 0, free or connate at the base. Calyx 5-toothed, valvate, 

 sometimes spathaceous and circumsciss. Petals 5, connate at; the 

 base with the tube of the stamens. Staminal-inhe; truncate or 5- 

 toothed at the summit ; filaments many ; anthers reniform. Ovary 

 5- celled, cells opposite the sepals, each with 3 or more ovules ; styles 

 5, connate below ; stigma capitate or subspathnlate. Capsulelocvli- 

 cidally 5-valved, sometimes with a separate endocarp, or with false 

 dissepiments forming a spuriously 10-celIed fruit. Seeds glabrous, 

 hairy or woolly. Species about 150, mostly tropical. 



The following species are cultivated in many gardens of Upper India : — 

 H. Rosa-sinensis, L. (Shoe- Flower), a native of China, where the petals 

 are used to blacken shoes, and also as a hair-dye ; if. iricuspis, Banks, 

 introduced from the Society Islands ; H. mutahilis, L., a handsome shrub 

 or small tree, the flowers of which are remarkable for changing their 

 colour during the day, those which are white in the morning turning to 

 a bright red towards evening ; H. syriacus, L. ; and H. schizopetalus^ 

 Hook., a native of Trop. Africa, with pendulous orange-red flowers and 

 deeply laciniate petals. 

 Calyx 5-cleft. 

 Bracteoles many, linear ; calyx ventricose . 1. H. Trionum, 

 Bracteoles distinct, with a leaf-like appen- 

 dage at the apex ; calyx not ventricose . 2. H. surattensis, 

 Bracteoles distinct, without appendages ; 

 calyx not ventricose ; seeds 'Bottony. 

 Corolla spreading . , . . . 3. Jff. hirtus. 

 Corolla reflexed . ,• . . . 4. JEf. micraTdhus. 



