MALVACEAE. 55 



2. ALTHAEA. Linn. Marsh Mallow. 

 From the Greek aA0u>, to cure ; on account of its healing properties.) 



C'ilyx surrounded by a 6 9-cleft involucre. Capsules nu- 

 merous, 1 -seeded, arranged circularly. 



A. officinalis Linn. : leaves soft tomentose on both sides, cordate and 

 ovate, dentate, entire or 3-lohed ; peduncles axillary, many-flowered, much 

 shorter than the leaves. 



Near salt marshes. Mass. N. Y. N. J. Aug., Sept, %. Stem 2 feet high. 

 Flowers large, purple. Introduced from Europe. Marsh Mattmo. 



3. HIBISCUS. Linn. Hibiscus. 

 (From an ancient Greek name of some plant of this tribe.) 



Calyx 5-cleft or 5 -toothed, surrounded by an involucre which 

 is often many-leaved. Stigmas 5. Carpels. united in a 5 or 10- 

 celled capsule ; valves septiferous in the middle ; cells many- 

 seeded, rarely 1 -seeded. 



1. H. Virginicus Linn. : roughish tomentose ; leaves cordate-ovate, acu- 

 minate, unequally serrate-toothed ; upper ones undivided ; lower 3-lobed ; 

 pedicels longer than the petioles ; flowers cernuous ; capsule hispid. H. 

 clypeatus Walt. 



Salt marshes. N. Y. to Car. Aug. 1\.. Stem 3 feet high. Flowers in pan- 

 iculate racemes, 2 inches in diameter, rose-colored. Involucre 8 9-leaved, to- 

 mentose. Petals obovate-cuneate. Virginian Hibiscus. 



2. H. Moschcutos Linn. : leaves ovate, acuminate, serrate, often 3-lobed, 

 whitish-tomentose beneath, somewhat scabrous pubescent above ; pedun- 

 cles and petioles often united ; calyx tomentose. H. palustris Linn. 



Swamps, especially near salt water. Can. to Car. Aug., Sept. Ij. Stem 

 3 5 feet high. Leaves 5 inches long and 3 broad, usually obtuse at base. 

 Flowers white or pale purple, sometimes with a crimson centre, about as large as 

 the common Hollyhock. Swamp Hibiscus. 



3. H. militaris Wittd. : leaves 3-lobed, hastate, acuminate, serrate, 

 smooth ; pedicels articulate in the middle ; corolla subcampanulate ; cap- 

 sule ovate, acuminate, smooth; seeds silky. H. Virginicus Walt. H. 

 hastatus Mich. 



Banks of streams. Penn. to Geor. W. to Ark. Aug. %.Stem 34 feet 

 high. Flowers large, purple, axillary, solitary. Smooth Hibiscus. 



4. H. Trionum Linn. : leaves toothed ; lower ones scarcely divided ; 

 upper 3-parted; lobes lanceolate, middle one very long; calyx inflated, 

 membranaceous, nerved. H. pallidus Raf. 



Near gardens and cultivated grounds. N. Y. July. (p. Stem 2 feet high, 

 somewhat hispid. Flowers yellowish white, with the lower part purple. Intro- 

 duced from Europe. Bladder Ketmia. 



4. SIDA. Linn. Sida. 



(An ancient Greek name applied to some plant of this tribe.) 

 Calyx 5-cleft, often angied, naked, or rarely with 1 2 se- 



