COLUMNIFER^. 



429 



other even before maturity ; there is, however, only 1 style, divided into a 

 corresponding number of branches (this condition may be considered to have 

 arisen from the branching [dedoublement] of 5 carpels). Malope has 3 large, 

 heart-shaped (Kitaibelia 6-9) epicalyx-leaves, united at the base. Palava has no 

 epicalyx. 



POLLINATION. The majority have protandro is flowers, and are pollinated 

 by insects. Between the basal portions of the 5 petals, there are 5 nectaries, 

 protected from the rain by hairs, e.g. in Malva sUvestris. When the flower first 

 opens the numerous anthers occupy the centre of the flower, and the still 

 undeveloped stigmas are concealed in the staminal tube ; in the next stage the 

 anthers are withered and empty, and the stigmas protrude and assume their 

 places (Fig. 452). The large-flowered forms, it appears, are pollinated only by 

 insects ; but self-pollination takes place in small-flowered forms, as, for example, 

 in Malva rotundifulia, in which the stylar-brauches, twis'ing themselves, place 

 the stigmas in between the undeveloped anthers. 



FIG. 452. Anodn liastata : a the bud just opened, the stigmas are concealed by the 

 anthers; !> ffllly opened flower in ^ -stage; the upper stamens are developed first, and 

 then the others in descending order; the stylar-branches are now visible, 'and lie bent back 

 on the staminal column; c all the stamens project upwards, and all the anthers are open, 

 bat the stylar-branches are still bent back; d the anthers are emptied and the filaments 

 shrunk together, but the styles have now straightened themselves upwards, and the 

 stigmas are in the receptive condition. 



DISTKIBUTION. 800 species (63 genera), most of which are natives of the 

 Tropics, especially America. Althcea and some of the species of Malva are 

 natives of the temperate regions of the Old World, the latter is also found in 

 North America. Gossyjn'itwi is tropical, no doubt especially Asiatic (G. herbaceum 

 from India ; G. arborenm from Upper Egypt). Cotton was introduced into 

 Greece in the time of Herodotus, and was cultivated in America before the 

 arrival of the Europeans. 



USES. Pungent and poisonous properties are entirely wanting ; mucilage, 

 on the other hand, is found in abundance in all parts of the plant. Medicinal : 

 the root of AWuca officinalis, leaves and flowers of Malva-species (M. silvestris 



