Botanical Magazine 106 - 1880.pdf - hibiscus.org

in Kent. According to Alphonse De Candolle, it is a native
of the evergreen region of Italy south of latitude 41°, and
struggles through the lower woodland region up to the upper
limits of the beech, about 3000 feet above the sea, growing
in exceedingly dense tufts on limestone rocks. We have,
however, specimens gathered by Mr. Grove at 5000 feet
elevation, in the valley of Orfenda of the Abruzzi.
DESCE. A glabrous hairy or pubescent decumbent herb,
with slender branches six to ten inches long springing
from a woody perennial root-stock. Leaves scattered, long-
petioled ; the lower ovate or rounded-ovate, acute or obtuse,
coarsely crenate-toothed, shorter than the petioles, which
are one and a half inch long ; the upper narrower and
shorter petioled. Flowers axillary and in lax terminal
corymbs, pedicelled, bright pale blue. Calyx-tube sub-
globose, grooved; lobes three-fourths the length of the
corolla, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, quite entire, sinus
without a fold. Corolla one and a half to two inches in
diameter, almost flat, the tube being but slightly concave,
five-lobed to about the middle ; lobes broadly ovate, sub-
acute. Style long, slender ; stigmas three, oblong, obtuse.
•J. D. H.
Fig. 1, Top of style and stigma :•enlarged.