MALLOW FAMILY 



93 



decreasing towards the poles. They all agree in containing a 

 large quantity of mucilage, and being totally destitute of unwhole- 

 some qualities. In some species, this mucilage, extracted by 

 boiling the plant, especially the root, is employed medicinally in 

 allaying irritation, both external and internal, as, for instance, in 

 the manufacture of guimauve lozenges. The inner bark of several 

 tropical species is used as a substitute for hemp ; but the less 

 strong, though most valuable of all textile substances, cotton, 

 consists of the long unicellular hairs on the seeds of various species 

 of the genus Gossypium^ 

 which belongs to this Order. 

 The Hollyhock {Althka 

 rosea), several species of 

 Hibiscus, Mdlope, and other 

 genera, are favourite orna- 

 mental garden flowers. 



1. AlthAa. Epicalyx of 

 6 — 9 connate bracts. 



2. Lavatera. Epicalyx 

 of 3 connate bracts. 



3. Malva. Epicalyx of 3 

 distinct bracts. 



T. Alth.^a (Marsh Mal- 

 low). — Hairy herbs, with 

 lobed leaves; axillary or 

 racemose floivers ; an epi- 

 calyx of 6 — 9 united bracts; 

 sepals and petals 5 each ; 

 stamiiial tube long ; styles 

 many; fruit dividing into 

 indehiscent i-seeded cocci. 

 (Name from the Greek dltho, I cure, from its healing properties.) 



1. A. officinalis (Common Marsh Mallow). — Hoary with stel- 

 late down ; stej7i 2 — 3 feet high ; leaves shortly stalked, thick, 

 sub-orbicular, 3 — 5-lobed; flowers in axillary cymes, i — 2 in. 

 across, blush-pink. — Marshes near the sea; local. The starry 

 down is a beautiful object for the microscope. — Fl. August, 

 September. Perennial. 



2. A. hirsuta (Hispid Marsh Mallow). — A hispid or bristly 

 plant, about a foot high, with leaves long-stalked, reniform, 

 3 — 5-lobed, and solitary axillary rose-pink floivers, an inch across, 

 occurs near Cobham, Kent. — Fl. June, July. Annual or 

 biennial. 



ALTH.'EA OFFICINALIS 



(^Common Marsh Mallow). 



