Syrian Mallow: A genus of the polyandria order, belonging to the monodelphous class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 37th order, Columnifera. The calyx is double, the exterior one polyphyllous, the capsule quinquilocular and polypernous.

Species: Of this genus there are 35 species; the most remarkable are, 1. The Syriacus, commonly called althaea frutescens, is a native of Syria. It rises with shrubby stalks to the height of eight or ten feet, sending out many woody branches covered with a smooth grey bark, garnished with oval spear-shaped leaves, whose upper parts are frequently divided into three lobes. The flowers come out from the wings of the stalk at every joint of the same year's shoot. They are large, and shaped like those of the mallow, having five large roundish petals which join at their base, spreading open at the top, in the shape of an open bell. Hibiscus. bell. These appear in August; and if the season is not too warm, there will be a succession of flowers till September. The flowers are succeeded by short capsules, with five cells, filled with kidney-shaped seeds; but unless the season proves warm, they will not ripen in this country. Of this species there are four or five varieties, differing in the colour of their flowers: the most common hath pale purple flowers with dark bottoms; another hath bright purple flowers with black bottoms; a third hath white flowers with purple bottoms; and a fourth variegated flowers with dark bottoms. There are also two with variegated leaves, which are by some much esteemed. All these varieties are very ornamental in a garden. 2. The Rosa Sinensis, with an arborecent stem, and egg-pointed sawed leaves. It is a native of the East Indies, whence it has got the name of China rose; but the seeds having been carried by the French to their West India settlements, it hath thence obtained the name of Martinico rose. Of this there are the double and single flowering kinds; the seeds of the first frequently produce plants that have only single flowers, but the latter seldom vary to the doublekind. 3. The mutabilis, or changeable rose, has a soft spungy stem, which by age becomes ligneous and pithy. It rises to the height of 12 or 14 feet, sending out branches towards the top, which are hairy, garnished with heart-shaped leaves, cut into five acute angles on their borders, and slightly sawed on their edges; of a lucid green on their upper side, but pale below. The flowers are produced from the wings of the leaves; the single are composed of five petals which spread open, and are at first white, but afterwards change to a blush rose colour, and as they decay turn purple. In the West Indies, all these alterations happen on the same day, and the flowers themselves are of no longer duration; but in Britain the changes are not so sudden. The flowers are surrounded by short, thick, blunt, capsules, which are very hairy; having five cells, which contain many small kidney-shaped seeds, having a fine plume of fibrous down adhering to them. 4. The albenofchus, or mulf-feeding hibiscus, is a native of the West Indies, where the French cultivate great quantities of it. The plant rises with an herbaceous stalk three or four feet high, sending out two or three side-branches, garnished with large leaves cut into six or seven acute angles, sawed on their edges, having long footstalks, and placed alternately. The stalks and leaves of this sort are very hairy. The flowers come out from the wings of the leaves upon pretty long footstalks which stand erect. They are large, of a sulphur colour, with purple bottoms; and are succeeded by pyramidal five-cornered capsules, which open in five cells, filled with large kidney-shaped seeds of a very mulfly odour. 5. The tiliaceus, or malvo-tree, is a native of both the Indies. It rises with a woody, pithy stem, to the height of ten feet, dividing into several branches towards the top, which are covered with a woolly down, garnished with heart-shaped leaves ending in acute points. They are of a lucid green on their upper side, and hoary on the under side, full of large veins, and are placed alternately. The flowers are produced in loose spikes at the end of the branches, and are of a whitish-yellow colour. They are succeeded by short acuminate capsules, opening in five cells, filled with kidney-shaped seeds. 6. The trionum, Venice mallow, or flower of an hour, is a native of some parts of Italy, and has long been cultivated in the gardens of this country. It rises with a branching stalk a foot and an half high, having many short spines, which are soft and do not appear unless closely viewed: the leaves are divided into three lobes, which are deeply jagged almost to the midrib. The flowers come out at the joints of the stalks, upon pretty long foot-stalks. They have a double empannelment; the outer being composed of ten long narrow leaves, which join at their base: the inner is of one thin leaf swollen like a bladder, cut into five acute segments at the top, having many longitudinal purple ribs, and is hairy. Both these are permanent, and inclose the capsule after the flower is past. The flower is composed of five obtuse petals, which spread open at the top; the lower part forming an open bell-shaped flower. These have dark purple bottoms, but are of a pale-sulphur-colour above. In hot weather the flowers continue but a few hours open; however, there is a succession of flowers that open daily for a considerable time. 7. The efculentus, or eatable hibiscus, rises to five or six feet; has broad five parted leaves, and yellow large flowers. The pod or okra is from two to six inches long, and one inch diameter. When ripe, it opens longitudinally in five different places, and discharges a number of heart-shaped seeds.

Culture. The first sort may be propagated either by seeds or cuttings. The seeds may be sown in pots filled with light earth about the latter end of March, and the young plants transplanted about the same time next year. They will succeed in the full ground; but must be covered in winter whilst young, otherwise they are apt to be destroyed. The second, third, fifth, and seventh sorts are propagated by seeds, which must be sown in a hot bed. The young plants are to be transplanted into small separate pots, and treated like other tender vegetables, only allowing them a good share of air. The fourth sort is annual in this country, though biennial in those places where it is native. It is propagated by seeds, and must be treated in the manner directed for Amaranth. The fifth sort is propagated by seeds, which should be sown where the plants are designed to remain, for they do not bear transplanting well. They require no other culture than to be kept free from weeds, and thinned where they are too close; and if the seeds are permitted to scatter, the plants will come up fully as well as if they had been sown.

Ufer. The fourth sort is cultivated in the West Indies by the French for the sake of its seeds. These are annually sent to France in great quantities, and form a considerable branch of trade, but the purposes which they answer are not certainly known. The inner rind of the fifth sort is very strong, and of great esteem, which the following recital from Dampier may serve to illustrate: They (the Mufketo Indians) make their lines, both for fishing and striking, with the bark of Maho, which is a sort of tree or shrub that grows plentifully all over the West Indies, and whose bark is made up of strings or threads very strong; you may draw it off either in flakes or small threads, as you have occasion.—It is fit for any manner of cordage, and pri-

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Hicetas vateers often make their rigging of it. See further the ticle BARK.

The seventh fort is a native of the West Indies, where it is cultivated in gardens and inclosures as an article of food.—The whole of it is mucilaginous, especially the pods. "These (Dr Wright informs us) are gathered green, cut into pieces, dried, and sent home as presents, or are boiled in broths or soups for food. It is the chief ingredient in the celebrated pepper-pot of the West Indies, which is no other than a rich olla: the other articles are either flesh meat, or dried fish and capsicum. This dish is very palatable and nourishing.—As a medicine okra is employed in all cafes where emollients and lubricants are indicated."

HICETAS of Syracuse, an ancient philosopher and astronomer, who taught that the sun and stars were motionless, and that the earth moved round them. This is mentioned by Cicero, and probably gave the first hint of the true system to Copernicus. He flourished 344 B.C.

HICKES (George), an English divine of extraordinary parts and learning, born in 1642. In 1681 he was made king's chaplain, and two years after dean of Worcester. The death of Charles II. stopped his farther preferment; for though his church principles were very high, he manifested too much zeal against Popery to be any favourite with James II. On the revolution, he with many others was deprived for refusing to take the oaths to king William and queen Mary; and soon after, archbishop Sancroft and his colleagues considering how to maintain episcopal succession among those who adhered to them, Dr Hickes carried over a list of the deprived clergy to king James; and with his sanction a private consecration was performed, at which it is said lord Clarendon was present. Among others, Dr Hickes was consecrated suffragan bishop of Thetford, and died in 1715.—He wrote, 1. Institutiones Grammaticae Anglo-Saxonicae, et Meso-Gothicae. 2. Antiqua literatura septentrionalis. 3. Two treatises, one of the Christian priesthood, the other of the dignity of the episcopal order. 4. Jovian, or an answer to Julian the apostate. 5. Sermons; with many temporary controversial pieces on politics and religion.