57 
Descriptive Notes on Papuan Plants, 
shorter than the flower ; involucel consisting of Jive cordate-lanceolar 
segments ; calyx nearly twice as long as the involucel; its lobes longer 
than the tube, ovate-lanceolar, overlapping at the margin, faintly three- 
nerved ; petals large, beset with scattered star-hair at the outer side ; 
staminal tube to near the middle without filaments and densely star- 
hairy ; filaments considerably longer than the dark anthers ; styles short- 
exserted. 
Fly- River; D’AIbertis. 
Likely a tall plant. Branches robust. Leaves measuring from 3 to 
7 inches, paler beneath, almost glabrous above. Petioles 1-4 inches 
long. Stipules oval-lanceolar or at the base cordate, 4-6 lines long. 
Pedicels axillary, about ] inch or less long. Involucel persistent, folded 
at the base. Calyx nearly IJ inch long. Petals measuring nearly 
3 inches in length. Staminal column almost as long. Styles to the 
extent of 2 or 3 lines exserted. Fruit unknown. 
This grand species comes in its affinity nearest to H, tulipiflorus 
(Hook. Icon. t. 70?) from Dominica and Guadeloupe ; the leaves are 
however not obviously crenated, nor form a deep basal sinus; the flower- 
stalks are very much shorter; the involucel consists only of 5 (not 7 or 
8) segments, which are not narrowed at the base ; the petals are not 
silky-velvety at the back. Probably the comparison of the fruit may 
offer further distinctions. Our new Papuan species bears also some 
resemblance to the Javan II. venustus (Plume’s Bijdrag. 71); the leaves 
are however lobeless and teethless and not densely tomentose beneath ; 
the flowers so far as seen are not corymbose. H, micans (Cav. Dissert. 
167, t. lx.) differs already in its angular serrated leaves, shining-downy 
on both sides, and in somewhat narrower segments of the involucel. H. 
fragrans (Roxb. FI. Indie, iii. 195) is distinguished also by serrated leaves, 
paniculate flowers, segments of the involucel ovate and towards the 
base connate. H. platycalyx (Masters in Oliver’s Flora of Tropical 
Africa, i. 202) differs in sinuous denticulated leaves, persistent very 
narrow stipules and anthers only towards the summit of the column. 
Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis. 
Linne, Spec. Plant. 694. 
Fly-River ; D’ Albertis. Port Moresby ; Goldie. 
It seems truly indigenous. 
