Botanical Magazine 106 - 1880.pdf - hibiscus.org

H. Rosa Sinensis is not well known; Loureireiro states
that it is indigenous in both China and Cochinchina, and it
has certainly been for long cultivated in China, and it
occurs in so many of the Pacific Islands as to render it
very probable that it is a native of the Pacific ; on the other
hand, its two nearest allies, the present plant and H.
liliiflorus, being natives, the one of East Africa, and the
other of the Mascarene Islands, suggests the probability of
Africa being the parent country of H. Rosa Sinensis.
For the discovery of this fine plant we are indebted to
our indefatigable correspondent, Dr. Kirk, H.B.M. Consul
at Zanzibar, who found it first in 1874 on the coast hills
at Mombasa, in lat. 4° g. ; in 1877 at Kilwa, in 7° 40' S. ;
and, lastly, at Lindi, in 10° S. It grows both in dry rocky
slopes and in damp mountain glens, in dense shade,
amongst Bignonias, Balsams, and Ferns.
The specimen here figured was raised from seed sent by
Dr. Kirk, which has been flowering in the Stove-house from
the month of June till now, late in October.•J. D. H.
Fig. 1, Section of base of flower through the ovary ; 2 and 3, anthers and portion
of filaments ; i, ovary and rudiments of epicalyx ; 5, top of staminal column and
stigmas ; 6, transverse section of ovary :•all enlarged.