S() 



9. MALVACEJO. 



capsule opening by a lid and containing numerous black 

 seeds. 



A native of our dry interior, 

 as well as of other warm coun- 

 tries ; a common weed of culti- 

 vation near Adelaide, and in 

 such localities probably intro- 

 duced from abroad. — Doc- 

 Sfarch. 



Family 9.— MALVACE/E. 



Calyx persistant, o-lobed, usu- 

 ally with 3 or more bracts at 

 base ; petals 5, twisted in bud, 

 cohering at base ; stajuens numer- 

 ous, united by the filaments in 

 a tube surrounding the ovary ; 

 anthers 1-ceIled : styles united in 

 the lower part, with stigmas 

 equalling the carpels in number ; 

 ovary many-celled ; fruit usually 

 composed of several free carpels. 

 Leaves stalked, alternate, palni- 

 ately veined and stipulate. 



Portulaca oleracea. 



Carpels 1-seedecl ; stigmas docurrent along 

 style-branches. 



Calycine bracts distinct ^Ialva 1 



Calycine bracts united at base Lavatera 



Carpels 2-seeded ; stigmas terminal Modiola 2 



1. Malva, L. 



Involucre of 3 separate bracts attached to the calyx ; 

 carpels in a depressed ling round a central axis. 



Bracts oval; corolla twice as long as calyx M. jiiecrcnsis 1 

 Bracts linear; corolla scarcely exceeding calyx M. pnrrifloia 2 



1. Malva, nicaeensis, All. MnUow of yicr. 

 Annual with soft spreading hairs seated on tubercles ; stems 

 stout or ascending; leaves almost circular in outline, with 

 5-7 rounded, crenate, more or less deeply-cut lobes; Howers 

 small, light-purple, in axillary clusters on unequal pedi- 

 cels; bracts oval, attached halfway up the calyx; calyx- 

 lobes broad-oval, ciliate, almost concealing the ripe carpels; 

 petals twice as long as calyx, notched, ciliate on the claws; 

 carpels 8-10, glabrous or slightly downy, wrinkled and net- 

 ted on the back, the sides almost smooth and radially 

 lined. 



Roadsides and waste places. — Aug. -Nov. — Mediter- 

 ranean region. 



