MAXVA INVOLTTCRATA. 67 



portions. Sometimes these carpels are fewer in number than in Malm, as in 

 Hibiscus, where they are only five, and contain not one, but several seeds each ; 

 and in the shewy annual Malope trifida, the one-seeded carpels, instead of being 

 disposed in the same plane, are collected into a spherical head ; but in all the 

 genera, the monadelphous stamens effectually distinguish the plants of this Order 

 from any others likely to be met with in the open borders. 



Mais revenons a nos moutons, or rather, our Malva involucrata, on which we have 

 yet a word or two to say. This plant is at present confined to the Kew collection, 

 but as we may hope that it will before long be in the hands of some of the 

 Florists, and thence reach the public, it may be worth while to state that the 

 Mallows of this section prefer a moist but drained peat soil, or at least one con- 

 taining a portion of peat. Such of them as ripen seed — and we hope the M- 

 involucrata will be of this number — may be readily increased by them ; those of 

 them which do not mature seed, can only be propagated by dividing the crown of 

 the root in spring, the divisions being potted in light peaty soil, and placed on a 

 gentle heat to cause them to emit roots. The whole of them should be afforded 

 a slight protection, especially in very wet or severe winters, and as they are 

 deciduous, the roots might even be taken up and potted with but little trouble. 



The trivial name, involucrata, of the present species, was given whilst it 

 was still known as a Nuttallia; and as the plants so-called were mostly destitute 

 of this organ, it was more appropriate than atpresent, now that the plant is united 

 to a genus in which the possession of an involucre is the rule, and its absence the 

 exception. 



Our gardens are indebted to the Mallows tribe for a considerable number of 

 ornamental plants, some of which are of great interest. Of this number, are the 

 stately Hollyhocks (Althcca rosea), the various species of Hibiscus, of which 

 Moscheutos and roseus are quite hardy, but require a moist situation to induce them 

 to flower ; and the plants included in the genus Abutilon, which although usually 

 treated as greenhouse subjects, succeed in the open borders during the summer 

 months, and flower abundantly- The varieties of the Malope trifida are also well 

 deserving of cultivation, and the annual Malva mauritiana is scarcely less shewy. 

 The M. campanulata, a half-hardy perennial species, may also be treated as an annual, 

 for it will flower the first year from seed, if they are sown early on heat. There is 

 one plant of this Order which we have sought for in vain, and notice here for the 

 sake of drawing the attention of our readers to it ; it is the Kitaibelia vitifolia, a 

 native of Hungary, growing about five feet or more high, and having large foliage, 

 in form resembling that of the vine. The flowers are large, white, and produced 

 during the summer and autumn. It is said to be a very picturesque plant, and 

 would be valuable for the back of the borders or the shrubbery. Possibly some of our 

 subscribers may be able to put us on the track of this stranger from Magyar land. 



