Malvales.] MALVALES. 359 



Alliance XXVIII. MALVALES. — The Malval Alliance. 



Diagnosis. — HypogynoiLS Exogens^ toith monodicJdamydeous Jloioers, axile placenteBy 

 valvate calyx, an imbricated or twisted corolla, definite or 00 stamens, and embryo 

 with little or no albumen. 



This Alliance is little else than the old Order of Malvae or Columniferte, with the 

 addition of Indian Cresses and Vivianiads. The limit of it is determined by the valvate 

 calyx in combination A\-ith a twisted or much imbricated corolla, if any corolla is present. 

 The Stercuhads, with then* long-stalked ovary, indicate an approach to the vei*y edge of 

 Capparids, whose calyx is sometimes valvate ; and at the other end of the series Lin- 

 denblooms are not unaptly brought into contact with the Poreworts (Tremandraceae), 

 which are also valvate. 



It is not, however, ^^^th Sapindals that Malvals are most alHed ; they claim a much 

 nearer affinity to Geranials, which differ in their imbricated calyx more than in any 

 thing else, and to Avhich the Indian Cresses form a direct transition. But I have not 

 succeeded m bringing together the Alliances of Hypogynous Exogens, so as to allow 

 Geranials to follow or precede Malvals. There is also another kind of relationship on 

 the part of Malvals, equally strong, and equally impossible to describe hneally ; namely, 

 with Spurgeworts, which Stercuhads and Byttneriads (especially the latter) quite touch 

 at several points. 



The real position of the Malval Alhance may therefore be expressed somewhat in the 

 following manner : — ■ 



Sterculiacese. — Byttneriacese. — Vivianiacese. — Tropseolaceae. — Malvaceae. — Tiliacese. 



Euphorbiacece. Geraniacece. 



Natural Orders of Malvals. 



Stamens cohimnar, all perfect. Anthers 2-celled, turned outwards. 126. Sterculiace^. 

 wiens moiuidelphous, 

 2-celled, turned imoan 



Stamens free. Dish none. Seeds with albumen. Embryo curved. \ -.^o ViviA\iArE^ 

 Petals permanent. Calyx ribbed j 



Stamens free. Dish none. Seeds without albumen. Embryo\y2Q Tropceolace^ 



amygdaloid J 



Stamens columnar, all perfect. Anthers \-celled, turned imoards. . 130. Malvaceae. 

 Stamerts free, on the outside a dish. Seeds ^vith albumen. Embryo\-,o-, Tiitace^ 



straight J 



Stamens moiuidelphous, in most cases partly stenle. Anthers \ ■,r,>j Byttxeriacee 



