142. MALVACEAE 35 1 



1. Carpels in several rows placed one above the other, one-seeded, indehiscent, 



falling singly. Staminal tube beset with anthers to the top. Flowers 

 with an epicalyx of 3 bracteoles. Herbs. — Species 3. Xortli Africa. 

 Used as ornamental and medicinal plants. [Tribe MALOPEAE.] 



Malope L. 

 Carpels placed side by side in one plane 2 



2. Style-branches 10, twice as many as the ovary-cells. Ovules solitary 



in each cell. Staminal tube truncate or minutely toothed at the top. 



Fruit splitting into mericarps. [Tribe UREXEAE.] 3 



Stvle-branches as many as the ovary-cells, or a simple style. ... 5 



3. Flowers without an epicalyx, but inflorescence with an inv^olucre. Carpels 



opposite to the petals. Hispid herbs. — ■ Species 2. Tmpics. Yielding 



fibre Malachra L. 



Flowers with an epicalyx of 5 or more bracteoles 4 



4. Mericarps covered with hooked bristles, indehiscent. Carpels alternating 



with the petals. Epicalyx of 5 bracteoles. Leaves glandular beneath. 

 — Species 2. Tropical and South Africa ; one species only cultivated. 



Used as medicinal and textile plants Urena L, 



Mericarps winged, tubercled, or with i — -3 awns, rarely smooth. Leaves 

 without glands on the under surface. — Species 25. Tropical and 

 South Africa. Some of them are used as ornamental, medicinal, or 

 textile plants. {Malache Vogel). (Plate 92.) . . . Pavonia L. 



5. Fruit splitting into mericarps. Carpels 5 or more. Style cleft. Staminal 



tube loaded with anthers to the top. [Tribe MAL VEAE.] ... 6 



Fruit capsular, locuhcidal. Staminal tube beset with anthers on the 



outer face, truncate or minutely toothed at the top. [Tribe HIBISC- 



EAE.] 14 



6. Carpels with i ovule 7 



Carpels with 2 or more ovules, sometimes transversely septate. [Subtribe 



ABUTILIXAE.] II 



7. Ovule pendulous. Stigmas terminal. Epicalyx absent. — Species 20. 



Some of them yield fibre, fodder, tea, and medicaments. [Subtribe 



siDixAE.J Sida L. 



Ovule ascending. Epicalyx usually present. [Subtribe malvixae.] S 



8. Style-branches bearing the stigma at the thickened, capitate apex. Shrubs 



or undershrubs. — Species 20. Tropical and South Africa. Some of them 



are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. . Malvastrum A. Gray 



Style-branches pointed, bearing the stigma on the inner face. ... 9 



9. Epicalyx consisting of 3 free bracteoles or wanting. Central column 



of the fruit overtopping the mericarps. — Species 15. Some of them are 

 used as ornamental or medicinal plants. " Mallow." . . Malva L. 



Epicalyx consisting of 3 — 9 bracteoles united below 10 



10. Central column of the fruit overtopping the mericarps. Epicalyx 3 — 6- 

 cleft. — Species 12. Xorth Africa ; one species also introduced into 



