72 MALVACE.2E. 



All Mahacece yield a bland mucilage, and are largely used as emollients {e.g. Abelmoschus, 

 Malachra). A far more important product of the Order is their fibre, which in Cotton 

 (Gossypium) consists of the testa-hairs, while in many other Malvaceae the fibrous layer of 

 the bark is employed : thus Paritium (Mahoc, Cuba-bast), Sida pyramidata, Abutilon elatum, 

 Hibiscus clypeatus, Malachra, Pavonia typkalea, and P. racemosa, are remarkable fibre- 

 plants of the West Indies. A yellow dye is obtained from the unripe fruit of Thespesia. 



Tribe I. MALVEM. — Carpels as many as the stigmas, usually at length separating from 

 - the central axis. Column antheriferous at the summit. — The West Indian genera have 

 capitate stigmas (Sidea). 



1. MALVASTRUM, As. Gr. 



Carpids 20-5, uniovulate, curved, and encircling a central torus, at length separating from 

 the same. Radicle inferior. — Involucel S-1-leaved, or obsolete. Herbs. _ 



1. M. spicatum, Gr. {PI. Carib.). Suftrutescent, pubescent or canescent; leaves del- 

 toid or ovate, pointed, crenate-serrate above the base ; flowers spicate : spikes oblong, or 

 axillary ones reduced ; involucral leaves 3, lanceolate, equalling the calyx ; calyx-lobes ovate 

 or ovate-lanceolate, pointed, as long as the tube or a little longer ; petals orange-coloured, 

 obcordate, shortly exserted ; carpids about 15, awnless, glabrous and pubescent at the in- 

 flexed top, flat on the back. — Cav. Diss. t. 20. /. 4. t. 138../. 3. — Malva, L. M. americana, 

 Rich. Cub. (non alior.). M. polystachya, Cav. — Erect and branched, usually 2-3' high, 

 but sometimes shrubby and 6-7 high : leaves usually pale-green, or canescent chiefly be- 

 neath : down soft. — Hab. Jamaica !, all collectors, common, to Antigua !, Nichols. ; and 

 Trinidad!, Lochh.; [Texas!, Cuba! to Brazil!, Cape Verde Islands!, East Indies!, New 

 Holland!]. 



2. M. tricuspidatum, As. Gr. Suftrutescent, substrigose ; leaves ovate-lanceolate or 

 rhomboid-lanceolate, serrate ; flowers axillary, fascicled or solitary, shortly stalked ; involu- 

 cel-leaves 3, linear, at length exceeded by the calyx, or obsolete; calyx-lobes ovate, pointed, 

 as long as the tube ; petals yellow, obcordate, shortly exserted ; carpids 10 or more, tricus- 

 pidale (one awn at the inflexed top, two on the edge of the back), hispid above, somewhat 

 channelled on the back. — Cav. Diss. t. 22. f. 2. — Malva. Ait. M. americana, L. et Cav. 

 M. coromandeliana, Sic. M. domingensis, Spr. — Stem l'-l|'> with appressed hairs: leaves 

 green ; superior flowers sometimes approximate and subspicate. — Hab. Jamaica !, Bancr., 

 Dist., Wits., common, to Trinidad!, Cr. ; [Florida, Texas!, California!, Cuba!, and Mexico! 

 to Brazil !, and Peru !, Madeira !, Canary Islands !, East Indies !]. 



2. MODIOLA, Mch. 



Carpids 20-14, biovulate, separating from each other and from the central torus, biros- 

 trate and dehiscent between the beaks. Seeds separated by a transverse dissepiment : radicle 

 inferior. Stamens 10-20. — Involucel %-leaved, persistent. Herbs. 



3. M. caroliniana, G. Don. Annual, hirsute ; leaves palmatifid and toothed ; pedicels 

 axillary, exceeding the petiole ; petals red, a little longer than the calyx ; carpids hispid. — 

 Cav. Diss. t. 16./. 3; As. Gr. Gen. Bor. Amer. t. 128. — Malva, L. M. prostrata, Cav., 

 Macfad.! M. eriocarpa, DC. — Diffuse or prostrate; petals 3'" long. — Hab. Jamaica!, 

 Mac/., sparingly on the hills; [Virginia to Texas!, Mexico!, Chili!, Juan Fernandez!, 

 Montevideo !, Buenos Ayres !]. 



3. SPHJERALCEA, St. Hil. 



Carpids 24-12, 3-2-ovulate, tardily separating from the central torus, dehiscent above 

 and at length in the dorsal line. Radicle inferior in the inferior, superior in the superior 

 seeds. — Involucel '6-2-leaved, deciduous. 



4. S. abutiloides, Endl. Shrubby, tomentose ; leaves roundish, lobed-angular, ser- 

 rate; peduncles axillary, 5-1-flowered, superior corymbose; involucel 3-leaved; calyx 5-fid, 

 twice exceeded by the rose-coloured petals ; caq>ids 2-3-seeded, blunt, membranaceous. — Dill- 

 Elth, t. 1; Jacq. Ht. Schcenbr. 3. t. 293; Bot..Mag. t. 2544. — Malva, L. Phymosia, 

 Desv. — A high shrub : my diagnosis is taken from the figures. — Hab. Bahamas, Providence, 



