172 FAMILIES OF FLOWEEING PLANTS 



like fiber sometimes called bastard hemp. In the marshes along the 

 Atlantic coast of the United States grows the beautiful rose mallow 

 {H. moscheufos), very completely illustrated in Fig. 149. The nearly 

 related genus Abelmoschus contains plants with aromatic properties, 

 some of which are used in the manufacture of perfume. A. esculenfus 

 is the okra, one of the leading vegetables in the South, where it is 

 extensively used both as a table vegetable and as the basis for soups. 



In our western States, particularly on the Pacific coast, there are 

 numerous wild mallows belonging to the genera Sphaeralcea and Mal- 

 vastrum. Malvaviscus, Pavonia and Ahutilon yield handsome green- 

 house plants. Malva, with several species, is found as a weed in many 

 parts of the world. 



Family Bombacaceae. Silk-cotton Family. Contains 20 genera 

 and about 100 species, widely distributed in the tropics of both hemis- 

 pheres. Tney are trees of characteristic appearance, usually with pal- 

 mately lobed or compound leaves, large solitary flowers, and capsules 

 containing numerous seeds invested with a copious supply of down. 

 The baobab of Africa {Adansonia digitata) which has been frequently 

 described, is a member of this family. The accompanying figure (150) 

 gives a good idea of the habit of the tree, with its enormous trunk, and 

 also of the foliage, flowers and fruit. Ceiba is the common silk-cotton 

 tree of the West Indies. The family may be distinguished from the 

 Malvaceae by the fact that the stamens are in five or more sets. 



Family Sterculiaceae. Sterculia Family. Contsins about 40 gen- 

 era and 500 species, mainly South African and Australian. They are 

 trees, shrabs or herbs, closely related to the preceding families, from 

 which they differ in having the anthers of the stamens 2-celled. The 

 seven tribes exhibit remarkable diversity in structure, so that it is not 

 possible to give a more complete account of family Characters. One of 

 the most impoiiant economic genera is Theobroma (see Eig. 151). 

 Chocolate in all its forms is the product of the ripe seeds of T. Cacao, 

 which are first fermented and then dried. The tree is successfully cul- 

 tivated in many parts of South America. A valuable tonic is furnished 

 by the juice of the cola nut {Cola acuminata), which, although a native 

 of Africa, has been extensively introduced into South America. Others 

 of the Sterculiaceae are in ornamental cultivation. 



