[Hibiscus. 
258 XXIII. MALVACE 2 B. 
Herbaceous or shrubby plants. 
Tall erect herb; flowers large; calyx spathaceous, 
deciduous . . . . (1) H. Abelmosehus 
Scandent, thorny shrubby plant; flowers 2 in. 
wide; calyx persistent; epicalyx lobes 
distinct . . . . . (2) H. surattensis 
Trees with large entire leaves ovate cordate. 
Bracteoles as long as calyx. 
Leaves hairy, tomentose beneath; stalks 
rough, hairy.(3) H. macrophyllus 
Bracteoles cup shorter than calyx. 
Leaves glabrous above, pubescent beneath . {4) H tiliaceus 
Leaves glabrous, scabrid . . . . (5) H. floccosus 
(1) H. Abelmosehus Linn. Sp. PL 980; King, l.c. 44. 
Erect bristly herb 3 to 5 ft. tall. Leaves 3- to 5-lobed, lobes 
oblong to linear serrate acute, 3 to 5 in. long; petioles longer. 
Flowers 3 in. across, yellow with maroon crimson eye. Epicalyx- 
lobes 8 to 12 linear, 75 in. long. Capsule lanceolate acute, hairy, 
2 in. long. Seeds reniform musky. Hab. A weed usually appearing 
sporadically in cultivated ground. Singapore, casual; Malacca 
(Griffith). Perak, Telok Anson (Kunstler). Distrib. Tropics. 
Native names : Kapas Hantu; Kapas hutan; the Musk-seed. 
(2) H. surattensis Linn. Sp. PL 979; King, l.c. 45. 
Scrambling spiny shrub. Leaves 3- to 5-lobed, serrate sparsely 
pilose, 1’5 to 3 in. across; petioles longer. Flowers 2 to 2*5 in. 
wide, yellow, centre purple. Bracts of epicalyx 10 to 12 linear, 
tip spathulate. Capsule membranous. Carpels ovate with long 
acute point, 1 in. long. Hab. In hedges near civilization, but 
probably wild in the northern parts; Singapore, Tanglin. Malacca. 
Perak, Teluk Anson (Kunstler). Tringganu (Yapp). Setul. Kelan- 
tan, hedges near Kota Bharu. Native name : Asam Susor. 
(3) H. macrophyllus Roxb. Hort. Beng. 51; Masters , in Hook, 
fit. F.B.I. i. 387; Wall, PL As. Rar. i. 44, t. 51. 
A big tree 60 to 80 ft. tall. All parts covered with soft tomentum, 
the young branches, petioles, pedicels, bracteole and calyx bearing 
tufts of long yellow hairs. Leaves cordate-orbicular, apex abruptly 
acuminate, edges entire, 7- to 9-nerved palmately, 7 to 12 in. long 
and as wide; petioles 7 to 12 in. long. Flowers in terminal cymes; 
pedicels 1 to 2 in. long. Epicalyx lobes long, linear-lanceolate 
half as long as calyx. Sepals lanceolate, keeled 1 in. long. Corolla 
4 in. across, yellow with a maroon central spot, withering purplish. 
Fruit hairy, shorter than the calyx. Seeds reniform, edges densely 
long red-hairy. Hab. In woods and borders of forests. Common. 
Malacca, Bukit Panchur ; Pahang by the Pahang and Tahan 
rivers. Negri Sembilan, Kwala Pedas. Selangor, Sungei Buloh 
(Foxworthy). Province Wellesley, Tasek Gelugur. Perak, Ulu 
Kerling (Kunstler). Distrib. Siam, Cochin-China. Native name: 
Tutok. Use : A good fibre from the bast used for ropes. 
In the Malay Peninsula form the epicalyx is shorter and the sepals broader, 
and both less hairy than in the Indian one. 
