XXV. MALVACB^, 99 



part 3, p. 426; Firm. Man. Gard. Tiul. eel. 3, p. 413. Ahutilon pichim, 

 Walp. Rep. V. 1, p. 324. Sida picta, Gill, in Hook. Bot. Misc. v. 3 

 p. 154. 



Cultivated in gardens. 



6. MALACHRA, Linn. 



Hispid herbs. Leaves often angled or lobed. Flowei's yellow of 

 whitish, in dense heads, with foliaceons invokicral bracts. Sepals 5, 

 united into a tube below the middle. Staminal-tiibe short, truncate or 

 5-toothed at the apex; filaments numerous. Ovary 5-celled ; cells 1- 

 ovuled ; styles 10 ; ^tigmas capitate. Ripe carpels separating from the 

 axis, indehiscent, smooth. Seeds reniform, ascending. — Distrib. Warmer 

 regions of America ; species 5-6, of which 1 or 2 have become naturalized 

 in Asia and Africa. The following is one of these : — 



1. Malachra capitata, Linn. JSyst. ed. 12, v. 2 (1767) p. 458. 

 A coarsely hispid annual. Leaves 2-3 in. long, cordate, crenate, from 

 orbicular more or less lobed or angled, to ovate and entire ; petioles 

 1-^2 in. long, jointed below the blade ; stipules ^^ in. long, simple, 

 linear or often 2-3-branched, the branches connate at or near the very 

 base, flat at base, above filiform. Pedicels 1—2 in. long, several of 

 different lengths arranged on a very short stout axillary peduncle, each 

 pedicel carrying a 4-leaved involucre, 3 of the leaves of which are 

 equal, the fourth smaller and attached higher up than the others. 

 Invokicral leaves with stiff bristles on the margins and on the nerves 

 beneath, A'ariously lobed and toothed, with a white spot at the base and 

 with 2 opposite ciliate appendages, each f in. long, on the short stalk 

 below the blade. Flowers subsessile, 4-6 within the involucre, yellow. 

 Calyx membranous ; lobes ovate, acute, prominently margined, the 

 midrib produced into a long bristly point. Carpels 5, rounded on the 

 back, w^edge-shaped on the inner side, v\ bite when ripe, reticulated with 

 brown veins. Seeds smooth, brown-black. Fl. B. I. v. 1, p. 329 ; 

 Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 11 (1897) p. 127 ; Watt, Diet. Econ. 

 Prod. V. 5, p. 109. M. rotundifoUa, Schrank, PI. Rar. Hort. Monac. 

 t. 56 ; Grab. Cat. p. 13; Dalz. & Gibs. Suppl. p. 0. — Flowers: Sept.- 

 Dec. Veen. Rdn-hhendi ; Vdn-hhendi. 



Very common in waste places in tlie island of Bombay and, especially, in the marshy, 

 low-lying tract known as the Byculla Flats. Tiie plant, though completely natura- 

 lized and a weed in many places in India, is not indigenous. Graharn (Cat. p. 13) 

 states that it was introduced from Brazil into Bombay by Kirnmo as a flbre-j^lant. 

 The plant produces an excellent fibre, but tlie expectation of its being used in Bombay 

 as a substitute for Jute has not been realized. For a full account, consult Watt, Diet. 

 Econ. Prod. 1. c. 



7. URENA, Linn. 



Herbaceous tomentose perennials. Leaves usually angled or lobed. 

 Flowers clustered, sessile or shortly pedicelled. Invokicral bracts 5, 

 connate at the base, adnate to the tube of the calyx, ultimately rigid. 

 Sepals 5, connate into a cup-shaped calyx. Petals 5, connate below, 

 united to the staminal-tube. Staminal-tube bearing short filaments or 

 subsessile anthers below the truncate or 5-toothed apex. Ovary 5- 

 celled ; cells 1-ovuled; branches of the style 10; stigmas capitate. 



h2 



