MALVACE. 205 
_ which was used by both Greeks and Romans as a medicine on 
"account of its Solera aces and cooling properties. It is the 
Nan-i-kulagh, “ crow’s-bread,” and Khitmi-i-kuchak, “small 
Khitmi” of the Persians. Mauléna Nafis describes three kinds 
of malokhia, viz.:— 
‘Ist, A cultivated kind called Malokhia. 
2nd, A large wild kind called Khitmi. 
3rd, A small wild kind called Khub4zi. 
’ 
The author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya pronounces the 
~ last mentioned to be the article known as Khubézi, and 
describes it thus :—“ Leaves roundish, tasteless, a little hairy 
_ On the under surface ; flower small, reddish purple ; fruit round 
and flat, depressed in the centre, colour white or brown. The 
_ plant is much smaller than Khitmi.” All parts of this plant 
4 are commended in Mahometan works on account of. their 
: -Mmucilaginous and coolin g properties, but the fruit is considered 
to be most efficient. Pliny, quoting Xenocrates, says that — 
the seeds are aphrodisiacal, and such would appear to be the 
: opinion of the Mahometans of India. In modern medicine 
the common mallow is considered to have properties similar 
to Althea. 
Description. —The fruit consists of from 10—12 glabrous 
wrinkled carpels, each containing one reniform seed; some of it 
is mature, but at least half is in various stages of immaturity, : 
® Portion of the thin papery calyx is attached to the fruit, and 
‘a good fresh sample a few deep blue flowers may be found 
Riveting plants in the rainy season. 
Chemical composition.—Water dissolves the mucilage aiid 
little bitter extractive. 
Commerce.—The fruit is imported from Persia 
aaa of Khub4zi. It is worth Re. } per lb. 
