anthus.]

1. =Gordonia Lasianthus=, L. (LOBLOLLY BAY.) Leaves thick, evergreen,
lanceolate-oblong, minutely serrate, nearly sessile, smooth and shining
on both sides. The large, solitary, sweet-scented, axillary flowers on
peduncles half as long as the leaves. A large tree (30 to 70 ft. high)
in the south (wild in southern Virginia), and cultivated as far north as
central Pennsylvania, without protection; at St. Louis and Boston it
needs protection. Wood of a reddish color, light and brittle.

[Illustration: G. pubescens.]

2. =Gordonia pubescens=, L'Her. Leaves thin, deciduous, obovate-oblong,
sharply serrate, white beneath. Flowers nearly sessile. A small tree or
shrub of the south (30 ft. high in Georgia), hardy, and rarely
cultivated as far north as Philadelphia, or still farther north if
slightly sheltered.

ORDER =VI. MALVACEAE.= (MALLOW FAMILY.)

A large family, mainly of herbs, found in tropical and temperate
regions. One cultivated species, almost a tree, is included in this
work.

GENUS =9. HIBISCUS.=

Herbs or shrubs; one sometimes tree-like, with simple, deciduous,
alternate, stipulate, usually lobed leaves. Flowers large, showy,
5-parted (Hollyhock-shaped), in late summer. Fruit a 5-celled,
many-seeded pod, ripe in autumn.

[Illustration: H. Syriacus.]

=Hibiscus Syriacus=, L. (TREE HIBISCUS.) The only woody and sometimes
tree-like species; has ovate, wedge-shaped, 3-lobed, toothed leaves, and
large (3 in.) white, purple, red, or variegated flowers. Usually a
shrub, 6 to 15 ft. high, often cultivated throughout; introduced from
Syria.

ORDER =VII. STERCULIACEAE.=

Trees or shrubs (a few are herbs), with alternate leaves, and the
stamens united into a tube. A large order of tropical plants.

GENUS =10. STERCULIA.=

Leaves alternate, simple, usually lobed, ovaries more or less divided
into 5 carpels, each 2- to many-lobed; fruit when ripe forming a star of
5 distinct pods.

[Illustration: S. platanifolia.]

=Sterculia platanifolia=, L. (CHINESE PARASOL.) Leaves large, deciduous,
alternate, palmately 3- to 5-lobed, deeply heart-shaped at base, the
margin entire, the lobes acute; smooth or slightly hairy; leafstalk
about as long as the blade. Flowers green, in axillary panicles; fruit
star-shaped. A small, beautiful tree from China; probably not hardy
north of Washington.

ORDER =VIII. TILIACEAE.= (LINDEN FAMILY.)

An order, mainly of trees, abundant in the tropics; here repres