90 MALVACJEJE. [Hibiscus. 



6. H. pandurseformis, JBurm. /. Fl. hid. 151, t. 47, f. 2; W, & A, 

 Prod. 50 ; D. &. G. Bomb, Fl. 20 ; F. B. I. i, 338. H. tul)ulosus, Cav.y 

 Boxh. Fl. Ind. Hi, 196. 



A large annual or perennial viscid herb, without prickles. Leaves l|-3 

 in., ovate, cordate, slightly 3-5-angled, serrate, tomentose on both surfaces; 

 Tipper narrower ; petiole about 2 in., shorter than the blade ; stipules 

 linear, divided, deciduous. Peduncles very short, axillary or clustered at 

 the ends of the branches, jointed below the middle. Bracteoles T-IO,, 

 spathulate, erect, free from and shorter than the calyx. Sepals connate 

 below, lanceolate, acute. Corolla tubular, yellow with a purple centre or 

 wholly purple. Filaments few. Capsule i in. long, ovoid or globose^ 

 shorter than the calyx, densely covered with appressed bristly hairs.. 

 Seeds densely pubescent. 



Bundelkhand. Distrib.: Hotter parts of India to Burma and Ceylon; 

 also in Trop. Africa and Australia. 



7. H. vitifolius, Linn. 8p. PI. 696 ; Boxh. Fl. Ind. Hi, 200 ; W. & A,. 

 Prod. 50; D. & Q. Bomb. Fl. 20 ; F. B. I. i, 338; Watt E. D. H. trancatus, 



Boxh. Fl. Ind. I. c, Vern. Ban-' 



A tall mtich-branched perennial hispid herb, sparingly prickly. Stems 

 3-5 ft. high, slender, pubescent, or with a line of hairs down one side.^ 

 Leaves generally small, 1-2 in, long, cordate, palmately 3-5-lobed ; lobes 

 oblong-lanceolate, acute, serrate, glabrous or tomentose on both surfaces ; 

 petiole 2.| in ; stipules very small, setaceous. Peduncles axillary, solitary^ 

 or clustered at the ends of the branches, shorter than the petioles, jointed 

 below the middle. Flowers drooping, Bracteoles 5-8, setaceous, distinct, 

 free from and shorter than the calyx. ;8^epals connate half-way up, lan- 

 ceolate, acute, pubescent. Corolia 2| in. across, yellow with a purple 

 centre, 2 or 3 times longer than the calyx. Capsule 5-winged, shorter 

 than the enlarged spreading calyx, beaked, hairy. Seeds tubercled. 



Dehra Dun, Moradabad, N. Oudh, Bundelkhand, Gwalior, Merwara. 

 Distrib. : Hotter parts of Indiaifrom the Punjab to Ceylon ; also in 

 Trop. Africa and Australia. The bark yields a strong silvery fibre.. 

 Eoxburgh's H. truncatus, according to the Fl. Brit. Ind., is a variety 

 smaller in all its parts. 



8. H. cannabinus, Linn. Syst., ed. X, 1149; Boxh. Fl. Ind. Hi, 20S ; 

 W. <ScA. Prod. 50; Royle III. 84; D. <Sr G. Bomb. Fl. 20; F. B. I. i, 339; 

 Field cf; Gard. Crops i, 86, t. XXII ; Watt E.D. Vern. Patsan (Deccan or 

 Ambari Hemp). 



An annual or perennial prickly herb, 2-3 ft. high. Stems glabrous. 

 Lower leaves cordate ; upper deeply palmately lobed ; lobes narrow,, 

 serrate, mid-nerve glandular beneath ; petioles prickly, the lower ones 

 longer than the blade ; si-ipwZes linear-subulate. Peduncles axillary, very 

 short. Bracteoles 7-10, linear, shorter than the calyx. Sepals connate 

 below the middle, bristly and with a gland at the back of leach. Corolla 

 large, spreading, yellow with a crimson centre. Capsule globose, pointed,. 

 bristly. Seeds almost glabrous. 



Cultivated chiefly for its fibre during the hot weather and rainy 

 seasons, especially in the districts of Meerut and of N.. Oudh.. It is^ 



