£6 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
weak, and if not supported will lie on the ground. The leaves are broad and tliree-parted, whence the specific 
name of trionum. The capsules are inflated, and it is from them that the epithet bladder is applied to the plant. 
Ketmia is from the Arabic name of the mallow. This species is a native of Italy and Carniola ; it was first 
called the Venice Mallow, or Good-night-at-Noon, in allusion to the short duration of its flowers, which were 
supposed to drop exactly at noon. It is mentioned by Parkinson and Gerard ; and as the latter speaks of it in 
the first edition of his Herbal as well known, it must have been introduced some years before 1596. The culture 
is very simple, as the seeds may be sown at any time when the ground is not hard with frost, and the plants 
will not need either thinning out or tying up, as they look best sown thickly, and with their stems lying on the 
ground. Seeds are common in every seed-shop. 
2.—HIBISCUS AF11ICANUS, Thun. THE AFRICAN BLADDER KETMIA. 
Synonyme. —Hibiscus vesiearius, Cav., II. Trionum, var. africanus, 
Mill. Did. 
Engraving. —Oar Jiff. 1, in Plate 16. 
Specific Character. —Leaves toothed, lower ones undivided, upper 
ones 5-cleft, with oblong, blunt lobes. Calyx inflated, membrana¬ 
ceous, full of nerves_( G. Don.) 
Description, &c.— This very beautiful flower is so superior to the common Bladder Ketmia, that it has 
nearly superseded it in gardens. The petals are of a very pale yellow, or rich cream-colour, and the blotch at the 
base of each is of a very rich reddisli-brovvn. The species is a native of Africa, particularly near the Cape of 
Good Hope, where it is a shrub. It was first introduced in 1713, and has been frequently lost to our gardens, 
from its inability to ripen its seeds without abundance of heat. The last date given for its re-introduction is 
1826. It requires a light sandy soil ; and when it comes up, it may either be thinned out and tied up, or left to 
flower as it grows, like II. trionum. Mr. Forrest, of the Kensington Nursery, has a variety with larger flowers 
than the species. 
GENUS V. 
PALAVIA, Cav. THE PALAVIA. 
Lin. Syst. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx naked, 5-cleft. Carpels capsular, numerous, 1-seeded, disposed into a bead without any order. (G. Don.) 
1.—PALAVIA RHOMB I FOLIA, Graham. THE RHOMBOID-LEAVED PALAVIA. 
Engravings. —Bot. Reg. t. 1375; Bot. Mag. t. 3100, and our Jig. 
3, in Plate 16. 
Specific Character. —Leaves rhomboidal, lobately-crenate, stel- 
lately-pilose on the veins, shorter than the peduncles. Stipules awl- 
shaped, ciliated, green. Petals obovately cuneated, obliquely-emargi- 
nate. Peduncles longer than the leaves.— (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. —A little delicate plant, with a flower of no great beauty, resembling a common Mallow. 
It is a native of Peru, near Lima, from which country, seeds were sent sent home by Mr. Cruickshanks in 1830. 
It requires a warm situation and a light sandy soil; and its flowers, though short-lived, are produced in great 
abundance. Seeds may be procured in any of the London seed-shops. 
OTHER KINDS OF PALAVIA. 
There are two other kinds of Palavia, both natives of the sandy plains near Lima. One of these, P. moschata , 
has yellow flowers, turning purple as they fade ; and the other, P. malvoefolia , has small red flowers. Both are 
said to have been introduced, but we do not know where seeds of them arc to be procured. 
