A flora of Manila - Rainforestation

MALVACEAE 323
3. H. tiliaceus L. Balibago (Tag.)-
A much-branched tree 4 to 12 m high. Leaves 10 to 15 cm long, suborbicular,
green, glabrous and shining on the upper surface, the lower
surface grayish, pubescent, apex shortly acuminate, base prominently cor-
date, the sinus narrow, the basal lobes rounded, margins minutely crenulate.
Peduncles terminal, few-flowered. Bracteoles connate into a persistent,
9- or 10- toothed, persistent cup. Sepals 5, oblong, acuminate, pubescent,
2 cm long, persistent. Petals yellow, dark-purple at the base inside, or-
bicular-obovate, rounded, about 5 cm long and wide. Capsule ovoid, pubescent,
1.5 cm long, surrounded by the persistent sepals, and at the base
by the bracteolar cup, falsely 10-celled, 5-valved. (Fl. Filip. pi. 27 Jt.)
Common near the sea, fl. Aug.-Feb.; throughout the Philippines near
the sea. Tropics generally.
4. H. ROSA-siNENSis L. Gomamela (Tag.).
An erect, much branched, glabrous shrub 1 to 4 m high. Leaves ovate,
acuminate, coarsely toothed, 7 to 12 cm long. Flowers solitary, axillary,
very large, about 10 cm long, 12 cm in diameter. Bracteoles 6, lanceolate,
green, 8 mm long or less. Calyx green, 2 cm long, the lobes ovate. Petals
red, obovate, rounded, imbricate. Staminal-tube slender, longer than the
corolla.
Commonly cultivated, fl. all the year. Probably a native of south-eastern
Asia, now cultivated in all tropical and subtropical countries.
Several cultural forms or varieties occur in Manila, chiefly one with
double red flowers, and one with double yellowish flowers, the flowers of
both somewhat smaller than in the typical form. (Fl. Filip. pi. 270.)
*5. H. SCHIZOPETALUS Hook. f. Gomamela (Tag.); Araiia (Sp.-Fil.).
An erect, glabrous shrub 1 to 4 m high, the branches often elongated,
drooping or subscandent. Leaves oblong-ovate or elliptic-ovate, acuminate,
5 to 7 cm long, dentate. Flowers axillary, solitary, about 8 cm in diameter,
pendulous, the peduncles up to 15 cm in lenth. Bracteoles minute. Calyx
green, 1.5 cm long, the lobes short, the tube often split down one side.
Petals red, or red and yellowish-white, recurved, finely split into numerous
slender lobes and laciniae. Staminal tube very slender, long-exserted,
pendulous.
Common in cultivation, fl. all the year; in towns throughout the Philippines,
but not spontaneous. Probably a native of tropical Africa, now
cultivated in most tropical countries.
10. THESPESIA Correa
Shrubs or trees, pubescent or glabrous. Leaves entire or lobed. Flowers
large, axillary, solitary, or on few-flowei*ed peduncles, the bracteoles decid-
uous. Calyx truncate, 5-toothed or 5-parted. Corolla campanulate, the
petals convolute, yellow, with a large purple spot at the base. Staminaltube
5-toothed. Ovary 4- or 5-celled; style club-shaped, 5-furrowed or
5-toothed. Capsule loculicidal or scarcely dehiscent. Seeds glabrous or
tomentose. (From the Greek "divine," on account of its showy flowers.)
Species few, Madagascar to tropical Asia, Malaya and Polynesia, 2 in
the Philippines.
Shrub; leaves pubescent beneath, usually somewhat 3-lobed 1. T. lavipas
Tree; leaves glabrous, entire, acuminate 2. T. populnea