XXIII. MALVACE^. 



253 



Order XXIII. MALVACEiE. 



Herbs, shrubs or trees, often hairy or in DurionecB in parts 

 covered by umbrella-shaped scales. Leaves alternate, simple, 

 lobed, or rarely compound {Bomhacece). Stipules free. An epi- 

 calyx below the flower of 3 or more bracts free or connate. Flowers 

 axillary or terminal solitary, fascicled or cymose, regular, often 

 large and showy. Sepals 5. Petals 5, twisted-imbricate in bud. 

 Stamens indefinite ; filaments connate in a tube ; anthers often 

 reniform i-celled. Ovary 2, many-celled of 2 to 5 or more carpels 

 round a central axis ; ovules i or more in each cell ; styles connate 

 at base or altogether. Fruit of separate cocci, or capsular loculi- 

 cidal, often large and woody. Seed reniform or ovoid, sometimes 

 woolly [Bomhax), sometimes with pulpy aril {Durio). Genera 60. 

 Species 700, whole world (King, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. Ixii. 38). 



Besides the plants described below, there are in cultivation 

 Gossypium hraziliense Macfad, a bush cotton with short-stapled 

 wool which was formerly half wild in Muar and can occasionally 

 be seen in native gardens {Native name : Kapas) , and Eriodendron 

 anfractuosum DC. The Kapok, a tall tree with horizontal spreading 

 branches, often to be seen in villages. The origin is probably 

 South India. 



Staminal tube entire long, shortly divided at tip only. 

 Carpels ripe separating fi'om axis, follicular dehiscing, 

 low shrubs. 

 Styles as many as carpels. 



Ovules solitary . . . . . .1. Sid a 



Ovules 2 to more. 



Seeds 2 in a carpel, separated by a partition 2. Wissadula 

 Seeds 2 or more, not separate . . • 3- Abutilon 



Styles twice as many as carpels ; follicles inde- 



hiscent . . . . . . •4- Urena 



Fruit capsular ; carpels connate ; herbs, shrubs or 

 trees ; flowers large .... 



Calyx toothed ; stigmas spreading . . .5- Hibiscus 



Calyx truncate ; stigmas united. Tree . . .6. Thespesia 



Staminal tube short divided into bundles of stamens ; 

 fruit capsular. Trees. 

 Leaves digitate compound ; seeds woolly . . 7. Bombax 



Leaves entire, scaly coriaceous ; fruit woody muri- 

 cate; seeds arillate (Durioneae). 

 Calyx campanulate; flowers large or medium. 

 Flowers large ; leaves scaly ; anthers reniform 



or oblong , . . . . .8. Durio 



Flowers small, scaly; anthers opening by a 



pore, globose . . . . . •9- Boschia 



Flowers medium ; calyx dilate at base, forming 



a cushion-shaped ring . . . .10. Neesia 



Calyx 5-pouched at base ; flowers very small . 11. Ccelostegia 



