OF ORNAMENTAL ANNtfALS 96 
appears to have been introduced from Spain about 1600, as, though it is not mentioned by Gerard, who wrote in 
1597, it is by his commentator Johnson, who wrote in 1633. It was then called the Spanish Summer Mallow. 
Clusius was the first to apply to it its specific name of trimestris. Its seeds may now be procured in any seed- 
shop. They should be sown in April or May, and when the plants come up, they must be thinned out, so as to 
leave not more than five or six in a group. In the centre of this group should be placed a stake, to which the 
plants may be tied loosely, or they may be drawn through a dahlia hoop. They are free-growing plants, and 
produce abundance of flowers ; but they are rather too large for a small garden unless they are kept neatly trained. 
OTHER KINDS OF ANNUAL LAVATERA. 
The following kinds are well deserving of cultivation ; but we have never seen them in gardens, and do not 
know where to procure seeds. 
L. FLAVA, Desf. 
This kind has yellow flowers. It is a native of the north of Africa and Sieily. It was introduced in 1818, 
but is now apparently lost. 
L. PUNCTATA, ^11., 
is a native of the south of France and north of Italy, where It is found in cultivated fields. It has pale violet 
flowers, and was introduced in 1800. 
L. CRETICA, Lin. 
This species has pale rose-coloured flowers, with a fringed margin to the petals. It is a native of Crete, and 
was introduced in 1723. 
L. AMBIGUA, Dee., 
nas purple flowers. It is a low plant, and grows wild near Naples. It was introduced in 1824. 
GENUS IV. 
HIBISCUS, Lin. THE HIBISCUS. 
Lin. Sffst. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
capsule, with the valves hearing a dissepiment on the inside. Cells 
many, rarely 1 -seeded. Seeds woolly or smooth. — (G. Don.) 
Generic Chjkacter. — Calyx girded by a many-leaved, rarely few- 
leaved involucre, distinct or connected with each other at the base. 
Petals not auricled. Stigmas five. Carpels joined into a 5-celled 
Description, &c. — Most of the annual plants belonging to this genus can only be grown in England in the 
stove, and we have therefore omitted them ; but an idea may easily be obtained of them from those we shall 
describe, as they bear a very strong family likeness to each other. The genus HiUtcm is botanically distinguished 
from the other Malvace<B, by the very difiFerent shape of its seed-vessel. This consists of five carpels grown 
together into one capsule, which has the seeds it contains arranged along five valves. 
1.— HIBISCUS TRIONUM, Lin. THE COMMON OR BROAD-LEAVED BLADDER KETMIA. 
Enor4ving. — Bot. Mag. t. 209. I upper ones 3-parted, blunt. Lobes lanceolate, with the middle one 
Specific Character. — Leaves toothed, lower ones almost undivided, | very long. Calyx inflated, membranaceous, full of nerves. — (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — The flower of the Common Bladder Ketmia is about the size of that of the Musk Mallow, 
and it is of a delicate cream-colour, with a purple centre ; and the anthers are of a rich golden hue The stem ia 
