Monadelphia. 
( *4 ) 
CRIMSON HIBISCUS. 
are ftill within the Limits of the Monadelphous Clafsj and we have 
m/w here a Plant, which, befide its peculiar Beauty, has the accidental 
^ Merit of fhewing the Character of that Clafs very ciiftinclly. The Co- 
lumn into which the Filaments unite in all the Moiladelphous Plants is in fome 
Ihort, and bury’d in the Flower : in that Cafe only, the fearching Eye of the 
Botanift difcovers it. Here it runs out a vaft Length from the Petals 5 and he 
muft have no Eye, nor no Attention, who does not look on it as fomething 
Angular. The Ends of the Filaments are loofe in this as in the other ; but 
their whole Length befide, forms together this long and flerider Colurtin. 
The Chinese have four Plants of the Hlblfcus Kind, which they cultivate in 
their Gardens 5 and to which we give the very improper Name of Cfiina Ro- 
ses. Two are Angle, and two double. I was fo happy to receive Specimens of 
them all ; and they follow here : this being the fir ft of therri. They are diftin- 
guiftied by their Leaves, and tho’ call’d four, they are properly no more than 
two Species, and their two Varieties from Culture : this, and its double State, 
are diftinguifti’d by having Ample Leaves 5 the other two, by their being pal- 
mated, or broad like a Hand and divided, tho’ not deeply, in the Manner of 
Fingers. We have begun to get them into our Collections, and probably the 
Seeds of thefe will add to the Number : there are feveral robuft Plants of the 
palmated Kind at Mr. Lee’s, rais’d from the Seed that came over with theft; 
Specimens, and it is probable fome are the Angle, fome the double Kind; 
Tbis Sbrub is twelve Feet high, and naturally luxuriant in Branches 5 the 
Leaves are of a very delicate Green, and their Shape is not unhandfome. The 
Flowers are vaft, and in their Colour baffle the faint TinCls of Art; it is a full 
and very perfeCt Crimfori, and as the Light plays varioufly upon it^ the fine 
TinCf gives a thoufand elegant Shades. This Account came with the Specimen; 
and he who wrote it* cannot be fufpeCfed of Want either of Accuracy or 
Truth : we Ihould have been happy if his Obfervations had extended farther; 
This is a Hedge-fflrub in China; and they admit it fometimes into the wild 
Parts of their Gardens, but it is in the following State they plant it in the 
moft confpicuous Places. The Seafbn of flowering returns twice in the Year, 
when wild ; the Beginning of Summer and late in Autumn ; but by their eafy 
Management of it in Gardens* taking off the Flowers, without fuffering any to 
remain for Seed, they keep it in full Bloom all the Summer. The Colour of the 
Flower upon the dry d Specimen, confirms the Account of its Luftre wheii 
frefli; and perhaps the double Kind, tho' full of Beauty in its Way, is hardly 
fuperior to it. 
The Seeds which came with this ha.ve not yet fflown their Shoot, tho’ fowri 
with the others. 
D O U- 
liibifcus foliis ovatls aeuminatis ferratis glabris caule Arbareof £#innxus. 
&ngle China Rofe* 
