Description of the Species, Hibiscus Telfairi^. Stem branch¬ 
ed, smooth, round, from two to eight feet high. Leaves alternate, peti- 
olate, ovate, somewhat obtuse and strongly veined, crenate or dentate. 
Petiole pubescent about one sixth of the length of the leaf in the 
upper leaves, but varying considerably in the lower ones. Stipules 
subulate, smooth, from three to four lines long. Peduncle smooth, 
about half of the length of the leaf, enlarged at the base, and articulated 
a little below the involucellum. Involucellum composed of five 
subulate leaves, which are rather pubescent, and about two thirds the 
length of the calyx. Calyx consists of five ovate acute divisions, divi¬ 
sions three-nerved, the centre one strong, the lateral ones delicate, also 
more or less pubescent. Corolla large, rose-colour, about three 
inches in diameter, and smooth on each side. Petals roundish, or 
obovate, having the margin more or less wavy. Stamens numerous, 
combined into a tube (monadelphous), about half the length of the 
petals, and at the apex of the tube which combines the stamens, are 
found five small appendages intermediate between the styles. An¬ 
thers kidney-shaped, dehiscing across the apex. Pollen yellow, 
globose, echinate. Styles five, pubescent, projecting beyond the 
stamineous tube. Ovarium sessile, smooth, five-celled, five-valved. 
Seeds (immature) smooth, numerous, reniform. 
Popular and Geographical Notice. Perhaps there is no 
tribe of frutescent plants yet introduced into this country which for 
show and beauty surpasses those of Hibiscus, which may be seen by 
the Hibiscus splendens, rosa, sinensis, Wrayse, Cameroni, lilii- 
florus, our present species, and many others. The Hybrid varieties 
of Telfairiae are so very numerous in the Mauritius that Mr. Cam¬ 
eron, the skilful and scientific Curator of the Birmingham Horticul¬ 
tural Society, when he resided at the establishment of the late Robert 
Barclay, Esq., Bury Hill, the late Mr. Telfair then resident at the 
Mauritius, repeatedly sent over to the above establishment seeds from 
that country, to the amount of about forty packets of different varieties. 
Sweet, in his Hortus Britannicus, enumerates five varieties of those 
raised and flowered at Bury Hill, viz., H. roseus (H. liliiflorus, Bot. 
Mag.), lilicinus, carneus, fulvescens, ochroleucus. This variety, Tel- 
fairise, appears to be the most dwarf, and bearing the smallest flowers 
which have come under Mr. Cameron’s observation. 
Introduction; Where grown; Culture. This hybrid was 
raised originally at Bury Hill, in 1825, from seeds sent by the late 
Mr. Telfair; but our figure was taken from a plant in the greenhouse of 
the Birmingham Horticultural Society, which flowered in July, 1840, 
and was then about two feet high. It may be propagated either by 
seeds, or by cuttings. Its soil should be sand, loam, and peat. 
Derivation of the Name. 
Hibiscus, from ifSicrKog, the Greek name of a plant nearly allied to this genus. 
Telfairi^, in honour of Mrs. Telfair, the wife of the introducer. 
