296 



MALYACE^. 



[part II. 



ORDER XXTin.— M ALT ACE-E.— THE MALLOW TRIBE. 



All the plants belonging to Malvaeese bear 

 so much resemblance to each other, that this 

 order may be considered a very natural one ; 

 and it is one very remarkable for the botanical 

 construction of its flowers. In some respects it 

 resembles Linace^e. quite enough indeed to show 

 clearly the chain by which they are so beauti- 

 fully linked together ; but in others, it differs 

 so decidedlv as to show how completely they 

 are distinct. Fi^. 119, which represents the 



flower and seed-vessel 

 of the Althsea frutex 

 ( Hib iscus syriaais) , 

 will serve to show the 

 chief peculiarities of 

 this order. The calyx 

 a consists of five sepals, 

 below which is an in- 

 volucrum of six or 

 seven leaflets, which 

 have the appearance 

 of a second calyx. The corolla is cup-shaped, 

 and consists of five petals, which are close toge- 

 ther at the base, and this is peculiar to the 

 genus Hibiscus. The capsule is round and 

 somewhat convex, being nearly in the shape of 

 what is called a batch- cake, as shown at c ; 



Fig. 119. — Tee flowkr, stamen?, 

 axd pistils o? the alxh-sli. frctex- 



