OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. II7 
All the species are mucilaginous, and the name of Hibiscus is said to be derived from Ibis, a stork, that bird 
being very fond of chewing the bark of the shrubby kinds. Most of the species of Hibiscus are stove plants ; but 
one kind, H. gyriMus, commonly called AlthcBa frutex, is a hardy slirub, and some of the species are hardy, 
perennial, marsh plants. 
1.— HIBISCUS MOSCHEUTOS. i.OT. THE MALLOW ROSE, OR MUSK HIBISCUS. 
Synonyhb. — H. palastris, Sims. Specific Chuucter. — Leaves ovate, acuminated, serrated ; downy 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 882 j Svrt. Brit. Flow. Card. t. 286 ; beneath. Petioles and peduncles joined together. Involucres and 
and out /iff. 1 in Plate 29. pedicels downy. Capsules smooth. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This is a very splendid marsh plant, producing several stems, each growing three or four 
feet high. It is quite hardy, but it will not flower unless planted in marshy ground, or near a pond, where the 
roots can have access to moisture. There is a variety sometimes called H. palttstris, or the Marsh Hibiscus, 
with rose-coloured flowers. Both are natives of North America, from Canada to Carolina, and they were 
introduced before 1759. 
2.— HIBISCUS ROSEUS, Thor. THE ROSE-COLOURED HIBISCUS. 
Engrivino. — Swt. Brit, Flow. Gard. t. 277. 1 lobed, hoary from down beneath ; pedicels axillary, free from the 
Specific Character. — Leaves cordate, toothed, somewhat three- | petioles, one-flowered, and jointed above the niddle. {G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This species is very handsome, and it difl^rs very little from the rose-coloured variety of 
H. Moscheutos. It is, however, a native of France, Italy, and Barbary, and was first introduced into England in 
1644, though long lost, till re-introduced in 1827. Like the preceding species, though quite hardy, it will only 
flower in a very moist situation. 
OTHER SPECIES OF HIBISCUS. 
H. SPECIOSUS, ^»/. ; Syn. H. COCCINEUS, Walt.; Bot. Mag. t. MB. 
A very showy species, with scarlet flowers ; a native of the banks of rivers in South Carolina and Florida. 
Rather tender in winter. Introduced in 1814. 
H. GRANDIFLORUS, Michx. 
The flowers are large and flesh-coloured, with a dark centre ; and the fruit is yellow. A native of the banks 
of the Mississippi j introduced in 1778. 
GENUS VI. 
CRISTARIA, Cav. THE CRISTARIA. 
Lin. Syst. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx naked, 5-cleft. Fruit orbicular, depressed, covered with a skin, consisting of several one-seeded carpels, which 
have two wings in the centre of each. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This genus takes its name from the crested carpels, Cristaria signifying crested. Only 
one species has been yet introduced, though several have been discovered in Peru. 
