158 | MALVACEE (Harv.) [ Althea. 
: 
arborescent ; those of the temperate zones are herbaceous or suffruticose. Upwards 
of 1000 species are known. ‘The properties of the Order are mucilaginous and inno- 
cuous, and several are in local use in affections of the throat, &c. Others, as the 
Gombo of the West Indies, yield fruits which are an ingredient in soups, or boiled 
a vegetable. The inner bark of most species is exceedingly tough and strong, an 
an excellent material for making ropes, or for converting into strong packing-paper. 
The Paritium tiliaceum of Natal might be profitably employed for these purposes. 
TABLE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GENERA. 
Tribe 1. Matvex. Carpels separable, disposed in a ring round a cen- 
tral axis. Stigmata as many as the carpels. 
* Styles filiform, stigmatose along the upper side. Calyx with an involucel. 
IH I. Althzea.—Involucel 6-9-leaved. 
‘-1 II. Malva.—Involucel of 3 leaves. 
** Stigmata terminal, capitellate. Calyx with an involucel. 
ae Il. Malvastrum.—Involucel 3-leaved. Ovules solitary. 
6-2 TV. Spheeraleea.—Involucel 3-leaved. Ovules 2-3 in each carpel. 
o-% V. Spheroma.—TInvolucel trifid. Ovules 2-3 in each carpel. 
*** Stigmata terminal, capitellate. Calyx without an involucel. 
; VI. Sida.—Carpels one-seeded, 
o-. -VII. Abutilon.—Carpels 3-12 seeded. 
Tribe 2. Urnenes. Carpels 5, separable. Stigmata capitellate, twice 
_ 88 many as the carpels (10). 
=o “Vint. Pavonia.—Involucel 5-20 leaved. 
_ Tribe 3. Histscez. Carpels united into a many-celled capsule. Stig- 
mata capitate, as many as the carpels. Staminal column naked and 5- 
‘ _, toothed at the apex, bearing stamens along its external surface. 
“<= EX, Hibiseus—Involucel many-leaved. 
On] X. Paritium.—Involucel cup-shaped, many-toothed or cleft. 
Il. ALTHZA. Linn. 
Involucel monophyllous, 6-9 cleft. Staminal column bearing anthers 
at the multifid summit. Ovary of many carpels, whorled round @ 
columnar torus ; styles as many as the carpels, stigmatose along the 
_ Inner face. Fruit of many reniform, dry, one-seeded, indehiscent, sepa- 
_ Table carpels, Endl. Gen. 5270. DC. Prod. 1. p. 436. 
_, Annual or perennial herbs, natives of the old world, and chiefly of the northern 
F newce~ anid car wre Flowers axillary or in terminal racemes: 
white. The common * Mallow” of England is the type of this 
named from ade, to cure; in allusion to the emollient properties of 
ii (Linn.); stems hispid; leaves ‘on long hispid petioles, 
7540 bed, the lobes cuneate, crenato-dentate ; sti- 
pedicels axillary, single-flowered ; involucel 8-9 
Prod. 1.p.437- Caw, Ie. t. 423. A. garie- 
