diffuse or decumbent, densely tomentose and patently villous; lower leaves on long petioles, ovate or sub-cordate, the upper oblong, rhomboid, or obovate, plaited or rugose, sub-entire or sinuato-dentate or crenate, 5–7-nerved, softly tomentose on both sides, sub-canescent; stipules leafy, 3–5- nerved, ovate or ovato-lanceolate; peduncles 2–3-flowered, longer than the upper leaves; bracts linear or lanceolate, as long as the pedicels; calyx tomentose and pilose, inflated, shortly 5-fid, the teeth deltoid-acute; petals twice as long as the calyx, their narrow claws fringed with long white hairs, longer than the roundish limb; ovary oblong, sub-sessile, densely hispid. I cannot certainly distinguish “ H. plicata ,” Willd., from the older H. althæifolia. It is said to have more cordato-ovate and hairy leaves, and ovate stipules; but leaves and stipules vary on the same specimen, and on specimens from the same locality, and I am persuaded that the more numerous the specimens examined, the less distinct will the two forms be found to be. H. diversifolia, E. & Z.! was founded on imperfect and half-starved specimens. H. plicata, E. & Z.! non Willd. is H. candicans, β. H. plicata, Drege! is H. leucophylla. Flowers large, bright yellow.
