T A B. XLIII.
HIBISCUS SPECIOSUS.
C H A R A C T E R GENERICUS—ESSENTI ALTS.
Calyx duplex: exterior polypbyllus.
Capfula qulnqiie-locularis, polyiperma. LIN. SYST. NAT. Z. p. 463.
C H A R A C T E R SPECIFICUS.
Hiblfciis foliis palmatis glabris; lacinns lanceolatis ierratis, caule pedunculis calycibufque
liievibus. HORT. KEWENS. 2. p. 456.
G E N E R I C CHARACTER.
Calyx double; the exterior many-leaved.
Capfule five-celled, many-feeded.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Hibifcus with glabrous palmated leaves; the divifions lanceolate and ferrated; the ftem, footftalks,
and calyces, fmooth.
Smooth Hibifcus. HORT. KEWENS. 2. p. 456.
THE natural aflbrtment or tribe to which this beautiful plant belongs is called by the tide of
Columniferae, from the circumftance of the tube formed by the lower part of the ftamina rifing
up from the flower in the form of a column. This tribe has alfo been diftinguiihed by the
tide of Malvaceae; many of the genera of which it is compofed being more or lefs allied in
general appearance to the well-known genus Malva or Mallow. In the artificial Syftem, or
Linn^an Syfliera, emphatically fo called, the columniferous plants are arranged in the clafs
Monadelphia, or fingle brotherhood; diftinguiihed by the conjunftion of the ftamina at their
lower part into one aflemblage. This clafs contains feveral very fplendid genera; amongft
which that of Hibifcus claims a diftinguiihed place. The genus Hibifcus is numerous, and the
flower, in its general ftruclure, bears a very ftriking refemblance to that of the Mallow.
Amongft the principal fpecies may be numbered the Hibifcus Manihot; remarkable for the