Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 77 MALVACEAE 139
7. Calyx or inflorescence not subtended by bracts
(epicalyx).
8. Leaves cuneate to shallowly cordate; hits el cm
wide; carpels 1-seeded ............. Sida
8. Leaves deeply cordate; fruits >1.5 cm wide; carpels
3-seeded.
9. Carpels not inflated, the walls firm. .......
..................... Abutilon
9. Carpels inflated at maturity, the walls membranous
................. Herissantia
7. Calyx or inflorescence subtended by bracts (epicalyx).
10. Calyx without epicalyx but inflorescence subtended
by large, conspicuously veined bracts ........
...................... Malachra
10. Calyx subtended by epicalyx; inflorescence without
large bracts.
11. Involucral bracts 3 ......... Malvasfrum
11. Involucral bracts 5-8.
12. Leaf blades eglandular, usually unlobed; petals
yellow to greenish; carpels unarmed or with
only 3 barbed spines ......... Pavonia
12. Leaf blades with 1-3 open nectaries near base,
usually lobed; petals pink; carpels with numerous
hooked spines . .......... Urena
Abelmoschus Medikus
Calyx spathaceous, 5-toothed on one side, deciduous; corolla
subtended by a f persistent epicalyx.
Abelmoschus esculentus (Linnaeus) Moench, okra or gumbo,
is cultivated on Dominica at Fort Shirley (Whirefoord 6166). It
has stems glabrous or with spreading (not deflexed) hairs and a
mature h it about 20 cm long. Hodge and Taylor (1957580)
discussed the Carib beliefs concerning this species under the
name Hibiscus esculentus Linnaeus. Adjanohoun et al.
(1985135, pl. 101) reported medicinal uses.
Abelmoschus moschatus
Abelmaschus moschatus Medikus. 1787a:46.-Bates, 1%8:104.
Hibiscus abelmoschus Linnaeus, 17536%.
Annual herb; stem with deflexed hairs; flowers yellow with
dark brown spot at base of each petal; pedicel usually >3 cm
long; fruit el0 cm long.
Asiatic but widely introduced and escaping; in lowlands of
Dominica: beside river at Hatton Garden Estate (Hodge 3182).
Abutilon Miller
Calyx 5-lobed, not subtended by epicalyx; staminal column
with stamens at apex; carpels 2-more-ovuled, leathery at
maturity.
Abutilon indicum
Abutilon indicum (Linnaeus) Sweet, 182654.
Sida indica Linnaeus, 173526.
Shrub to 1.2 m; leaves tomentose below; petals yellow to
pale orange.
Pantropical; in Dominica in disturbed areas on west coast:
Gabriel (Wilbur 8228), West Cabrit (Hodge 3709, Smith
10332).
Fioria Mattei
Fwria vitifolia
Fioria vitifdia (Linnaeus) Mattei, 1917:72.-Fryxell in Howard, 1989,5:214.
Hibiscus vitifolius Linnaeus, 17536%.
Densely pubescent shrub or herb to 2 m; leaves trilobed,
dentate; petals yellow; capsule winged at apex.
Native to Old World tropics, naturalized in the West Indies;
only record from Dominica: sine loc. (Zmruy 54 at GH, 152 at
GOET).
Gossypium Linnaeus
The species are variable and hybridization, followed by
introgression, results in intermediate specimens that can be
difficult to determine.
Used by Caribs to make cloth (Hodge and Taylor, 1957579).
1. Involucellar bract teeth gradually acuminate, sinuses f
rounded; leaves 3-7-lobed, central lobe ovate to lanceolate,
usually >1.5x as long as broad; capsules usually
3-celled, .+. elongate, pitted . ....... G. barbadense
1. Involucellar bract teeth triangular and acute or lanceolate
and acuminate, sinuses f acute; leaves 3-5-lobed, central
lobe triangular to ovate, usually ~ 1 . as 5 long ~ as broad;
capsules 3-5-celled, usually ovoid or k globose, smooth
........................ G. hirsutum
Gossypium barbadense
Gmsypiwn barbadense Linnaeus, 1753:693.-Borssum Waalkes, 1965123.-
Fryxell, 1979:70.
Coton blanc, coton noir.
Stipules 1-5 cm long; petals to 8 cm, yellow.
Originally South American, now widely cultivated; cultivated
and apparently escaping in Dominica: Carib Reserve
(Srehlt 6398, 6422).
Adjanohoun et al. (1985133, pl. 100) reported use to treat
tachycardia.
Kidney cotton (with seeds fused) is Gossypium barbadense
var. brasiliense (RafineSque) Fryxell.