Tas. 4681. 
MALVA ge ARSE 
Tnvolucrated Mallow. 
Nat. Ord. Matvace#®.—MoNADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 5-partitus v. 5-fidus, involucro 3-phyllo, nunc 1-5—6-phyllo, 
deciduo, rarius nudo, foliolis oblongis setaceisve. Carpella plurima, ‘monosperma, 
in orbem circa axin disposita. Radicula infera. 
Matva involucrata; hirsuta, caulibus elongatis procumbentibus ramosis, foliis 
profunde 8-partitis lobis 3-multifidis lineari-lanceolatis submucronato-acutis, 
stipulis magnis late ovatis acuminatis, pedunculis erectis solitariis axilla- 
ribus unifloris folio longioribus, involucri foliolis 3 lineari-lanceolatis calyce 
2 brevioribus, “ carpellis numerosis hirsutis levibus.” 
Matva involucrata. Zorr. et Gr. Fl. N. Am. v. 1. p. 226. 
Nurraxra involucrata. Nutt. ex Torr. in Am. Lyc. New York, v. 2. p. 172. 
Certain Malvaceous plants of North America, with a somewhat 
peculiar aspect, vacillating in habit between Sida and Maiva, 
and varying in the presence or absence or deciduous nature of 
the involucre, were referred by Mr. Nuttall to a new genus, 
Callirhoe, by Mr. Dick called Nuttailia (see Bot. Mag. t. 2612 
and 3287). This genus has been, as it were, by general consent 
abandoned, the species transferred to Malva, and a new and 
more firmly established genus given to the distinguished Ame- 
rican Botanist in Rosacee*. Our present plant would have been 
a Nuttallia of Dick, and hence was given the name involucrata, 
to distinguish it from some MVuttallias which were destitute of 
this organ, a name not very appropriate among true Malve. 
The plant was first detected in the valley of the Loup Fork of 
the Platte, by Dr. James, and what is described by Drs. Torrey 
and Gray as “var. £8, lineariloba, with the segments of the 
leaves divided into three to five narrowly linear lobes, was — 
found in Texas by Mr. Drummond. Our present plant, of which 
* See Nuitallia cerasiformis, Torr. et Gr., in Hook. and Arn. Bot. of Beechey’s 
Voyage, p. 387, t. 82. 
NOVEMBER Isr, 1852. 
