56 THALAMIFLOH.E. 



allelly and long-itudinally (8-) nerved. Inflorescence terminal, 

 of two umbellets, \vith a solitary pedicelled flower at their divi- 

 sion: peduncle terete, pubescent with capitato-glandulose hairs: 

 umbellet of 3-5 shortly pedicelled white flowers : bractese ovato- 

 lanceolate, leaflike. Sepals 3, lanceolate, membranaceo-margined, 

 externally pubescent with capitato-glandulose hairs. Petals 

 shorter than the sepals, deeply bipartite. Stamens 10, of 

 which 5 are shorter than the other half: filaments delicately 

 capillary: anthers compressed, yellow. Ovary spherical, sub-3- 

 gonal : styles 3, longer than the stamens, spreading : stigmata 

 puberulo-papillose. Capsule longer than the calyx, opening 

 with 10 fine teeth: seeds co, slightly compressed, granalato- 

 papillose. 



ORDER XXIV. MALVACEAE. 



Calycine sepals 5, rarely 3—4, more or less united 

 at the base, with a valvular gestiv^atioii, in many fur- 

 nished externally with bracteolated leaves constituting 

 an outer calyx or involucre. Petals of the same 

 number as the sepals, hypogynous, with a spirally 

 twisted asstivation, either distinct, or more frequently 

 adnate to the base of the tube of the stamens. Sta- 

 mens of the same number as, or frequently many 

 times the number of the petals, hypogynous: filaments 

 monadelphous, unequal in length: anthers 1 -celled, 

 reniform, dehiscent by a transverse slit. Ovary 

 formed by the union of several carpels round a com- 

 mon axis, either distinct or coherent : styles and 

 stigmata the same in number as the carpels. Carj)els 

 1— 2-seeded or polyspermous, sometimes united in 

 one, or separate, or separable : dehiscence loculicidal 

 or septicitlal : seeds somewhat hairy: albumen none, 

 or in small quantity : embryo curved, with twisted 

 or double cotyledons. 



Herbaceous plants, shrubs, or trees : leaves alternate, more 

 or less divided, stipulated : hairs stellated : peduncles usually 

 axillary. 



The Mallow Tribe are principally inhabitants of tropical re- 



