MALLOW TRIBE 137 



variously cut into numerous narrow segments ; outer calyx-leaves very 

 narrow ; fruit hairy. Plant perennial. This is the handsomest of our native 

 species of Mallow, its large, light rose-coloured flowers standing, in July and 

 August, on a stem two or three feet high, and growing several together, from 

 among the terminal leaves. Many of the pastures and roadsides, especially 

 such as have a gravelly soil, are decked with this pretty and fragrant flower, 

 but there are rural districts in which it is quite unknown. The foliage is of 

 a delicate light green, and has, when the weather is warm, a sweet odour of 

 musk, which, dui^ing the daytime, is perceptible only on handling the plant, 

 but which becomes more powerful in the evening. It sometimes bears white 

 flowers, and is often planted in gardens. 



2. Tree Mallow {LavaUra). 



Sea Tree Mallow {L. arbdrea). — Stem arborescent; leaves downy, 

 plaited, with about seven angles. Plant biennial. The sea buckthorn, the 

 sand willow, and our Tree Mallow, are almost the only shrubby plants of our 

 seashores, and the last is by far the most showy of them all. It is well known 

 to most lovers of flowers, being often planted in gardens and shrubberies near 

 the sea, but it is not common as a wild plant. It occurs in several places on 

 rocks in Cornwall, at Teignmouth and other parts of Devon, on the Isle of 

 Wight, on the island of Steep Holmes, on the west coast of Anglesey, and on 

 several parts of the Scotch and Irish shores, as well as in the isles of the Frith 

 of Forth. It grows sometimes wild on the walls of harbours, but is not found 

 inland, except when cultivated. In gardens the Tree Mallow grows well, and 

 attains a large size. A young plant sometimes survives one or more winters, 

 if it has not flowered, but when once it has blossomed it perishes. Its large, 

 purplish, rose-coloured flowers, deepening in tint towards the centre, are 

 very ornamental to the sea-rocks, from July to September. The stem attains, 

 in favourable circumstances, eight or ten feet in height. The Tree Mallow is 

 La Lavathe of the French, Der Malvenhaum of the Germans, and the Malvaiscao 

 of the Portuguese. 



Another species of Tree Mallow, the Lavatera olbia, is a much more 

 beautiful shrub. It was named Olbia by Linnaeus, that being the ancient 

 name of the town of Hyeres, which is about twelve miles from Toulon. The 

 plant grows in abundance in the neighbourhood of this celebrated place, 

 which was the Hieros of the Greeks, but which in later days received the 

 name of Arcse from the Romans, who enriched the town with many monu- 

 ments, all of which have now disappeared. Mr. Munby, in his sketch of 

 the botany of this neighbourhood, remarks, " We gathered also the Lavatera 

 olbia, which was pushing its branches to the height of ten or twelve feet, 

 loaded with thick clusters of blue flowers. This plant, together with the 

 shrubby Atrijplex haliiniis, were woven with the prickly branches of Smilax 

 dspera, and form an impenetrable fence to the few patches of ground that are 

 inclosed. These two plants are also the most interesting to an English 

 botanist, who in his own country has been accustomed to see species of this 

 last genus scarcely able to raise their heads from the ground ; and he who 

 has been fortunate enough to meet with the Lavatera arborea, Avill be capable 

 of judging of the magnificence of a tree of the same genus." 



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