MALVACEAE. (MALLOW FAMILY.) 6£ 



4. CLATT6NIA, L. Spring-Beautt. 



Sepals 2, ovate, free, green and persistent. Stamens 5, adhering to the short 

 claws of the petals. Style 3-lobed at the apex. Pod 1-cclled, 3-valved, 3-6- 

 seedcd. — Our two species are perennials, sending up simple stems in early 

 spring from a small deep tuber, bearing a pair of opposite leaves, and a loose 

 raceme of pretty flowers. Corolla pale rose-color with deeper veins, opening 

 for more than one day ! (Named in honor of Clayton, one of the earliest bot- 

 anists of this country, who contributed to Gronovius the materials for the Flora 

 Virginica. ) 



1. C. Visgiilica, L. Leaves linear-lanceolate, elongated (3' -6' long). 

 — Moist open woods ; common, especially westward and southward. 



2. C. C;8B'OlasBi;aisss, Miehx. Leaves spatulate-oblong or oval-lanceo- 

 late (1/— 2' long.) — Vermont to Wisconsin, and southward along the Alleghanies. 



Order 23. MALVACE^. (Mallow Family.) 



Herbs or shrubs, with alternate stipulate leaves and regular Jlowers, the 

 calyx valvate and the corolla convolute in the bud, numerous stamens mona- 

 delphous in a column, which is united at the base with the short claws of the 

 petals, 1-celled anthers, and kidney-shaped seeds. — Sepals 5, united at the 

 base, persistent, often involucellate with a whorl of braetlets outside, form- 

 ing a sort of exterior calyx. Petals 5. Anthers kidney-shaped, opening 

 along the top. Pistils several, with the ovaries united in a ring, or forming 

 a several-celled pod. Seeds with little albumen : embryo large, curved, 

 the leafy cotyledons variously doubled up. — Mucilaginous, innocent plants, 

 with tough bark, and palmately-veined leaves. Flower stalks with a joint, 

 axillary. 



Synopsis. 



Tribe I. MALVE^. Column of stamens anther-bearing at the top. Ovaries and pods 

 (carpels) 5-20 or more, closely united in a ring around a central axis, from which they 

 separate after ripening. 



* Stigmas occupying the inner face of the styles : carpels 1-seeded, falling away separately. 



1. ALTII^A. Involucel of 6 to 9 braetlets. 



2. MALTA. Involucel of 3 braetlets. Petals obcordate. Carpels rounded, beakless. 



3. CALLIRRIIOE. Involucel of 3 braetlets or none. Petals truncate. Carpels beaked. 



4. NAPiEA. Involucel none. Flowers dioecious. Stamens few. 



* * Stigmas terminal, capitate : carpels 1 - few-seeded, opening before they fall away. 

 6. SIDA. Involucel none. Carpels or cells 1-seeded. Seed pendulous. 



6. ABUTILON. Involucel none. Carpels or cells 3 - several-seeded. 



7. MODIOLA. Involucel of 3 braetlets. Carpels 2-seeded, and with a transverse partition 



between the seeds. 



Tribe II. HIBISCEiE. Column of stamens anther-bearing for a considerable part of 

 its length, naked and 5-toothed at the very apex. Pod mostly 5-celled, toculicidal, leav- 

 ing scarcely any axis in the centre after opening. 



8. KOSTELETZKYA. Involucel of several braetlets Pod 5-celled, 5-seeded. 



0. EIBTSCUS Involucel of many braetlets. Calyx persistent. Pod 5-celled, many-seeded. 

 6* 



