368 



MALVACE^. 



[HyPOGYNOUS EXOGENS. 



Order CXXX. MALVACEAE.— Mallowworts. 



Malvaceae, Juss. Gen. 271. (1789) in part.; Brown in Voy. to Congo, jo. 8 ; Kunth. Diss, p.l; DC. 

 Prodr. 1. 429. (1829) ; Endl. Gen. ccis. ; Meisner, Gen. p. 26. ; Wight. Illustr. 1. p. 65. 



Diagnosis. — Malval Exogens, toith columtiar stamens all perfect, and l-celled anthers 



turned inwards. 

 Hei'baceous plants, trees, or slirubs. Leaves alternate, more or less divided, stipulate. 

 Hairs stellate if present. Peduncles usually axillary. Flowers showy, often inclosed 

 in an involucre of various forms. Sepals 5, very seldom 3 or 4, more or less united at the 



base, with a valvate festivation. Petals of 

 the same nimiber as the sepals, hj-pogjiious, 

 with a twisted eestivation, either distinct 

 or adliering to the tube of the stamens. 

 Stamens 00, all perfect, hypogynous ; fila- 

 ments monadelphous ; anthers 1 - celled, 

 reniform, burstuig transversely. Ovary 

 formed by the union of several carpels 

 round a common axis, either distuict or 

 imited ; OATiles definite or indefinite, attached 

 to the inner angle of the cells, amphitropal 

 or semianatropal ; styles the same number as the carpels, either united 

 stigmas variable. Fruit either capsular or baccate, its carpels being either 



Fig. CCLVI. 



or distinct 

 monosper- 



Fig. CCLVI.— Abutilon macropodum. 1. an unexpanded flower ; 2. the stamens and styles ; 

 3. a ripe fruit, consisting of many carpels, whose upper extremities are free and radiant : 4. a ripe 

 fruit of the Malva sylvestris, natural size ; 5. a transverse section of tlie same fruit, from wliich all the 

 seeds have been taken except one, which is seen at C ; G. a section of a calyx, showing its valvate 

 structure. 



