THE MALLOW AND COTTON FAMILY 13 



very "^A^rge number of plants in cool climates, but there are not 

 many genera of this family in India. It takes its name from the 

 €rosswi^e arrangement of the different parts of the flower. 

 Amongst representatives of the family we may mention the 

 Radish {Raplicmus sativiis, Plate No. 625, 7. 8), the swollen root 

 of ^\hich is eaten; the Rape or Coleseed (Brassica napus, Plate 

 No. 625, 1 — 6), from the seeds of which oil is made, and Cabbage 

 (Brassica oleracea) from which, by cultivation, all the varieties of 

 •cabbage, cauliflower and knolkohl have been produced. 



5. The Mallow and Cotton Family 



(Malvaceae). 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves alternate, stipulate, often palmate. 



Hairs usually branched (stellate). Flowers radial, showy, with each 



five sepals and petals, the latter twisted in bud and overlapping. 



Stamens many, united into a staminal column or into five bundles, and 



^' adnate al the base to the petals. Anthers one-celled and kidney-shaped. 



'Ovary superior, syncarpous. Fruit a schizocarp, or a capsule. 



The Indian Cotton {Oossypium herhacewn). 



(Plate ^0. 6 29.) 

 {Kan. Arale, Hatti. Mai. Karuparutti. Tarn. Pariitti. Tel. Patti. San. Karpasah.) 



Several varieties of Cotton are cultivated in Indi^, which 

 -are probably referable to three main species: — a) The Tree Cotton 

 {Gossypimn arhoreum), b) the American Cotton {G. Barbadense) , 

 iind c) the Herbaceous Cotton (0. Jierbaceiim), 



1. Stem and Leaves. — The Herbaceous Cotton is a perennial 

 and bushy shrab in the warmer areas, and annual where the cold 

 weather being severe kills the plants. The stems are erect, the 

 branches spreading, and the leaves alternate, stipulate and half 

 segmented into three or five or seven broad lobes. 



2. Flowers, — In their axils the flower-buds grow and are 

 protected not only by the cap-shaped calyx, but also by three 

 large heart-shaped bracteoles forming an involucre. (Plate 

 <629, 4.) The five large petals are bright yellow, usually rendered 



