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of the mallow, having five large roundish petals, which join at their 

 base, spreading open at the top in the shape of an open bell : these 

 appear in August, and if the season is not too warm, there is a suc- 

 cession of flowers part of September. The early flowers are suc- 

 ceeded by short capsules; but unless the season proves warm, they 

 do not ripen in this climate. It is usually termed Althaa frutex by 

 the nursery gardeners. It is a native of Syria. 



There are varieties with pale purple flowers, with dark bottoms; 

 with bright purple flowers, with black bottoms; with white flowers, 

 with purple bottoms; with variegated flowers, with dark bottoms, 

 called Painted Lady Althaea frittex; with pale yellow flowers, with 

 dark bottoms; with variegated leaves, and with double flowers. 



The second species rises with a branching stalk a foot and a half 

 high, having many short spines which are soft : usually the leaves 

 are divided into three lobes, which are deeply jagged almost to the 

 midrib; these jags are opposite, and the segments are obtuse: the 

 flowers come out at the joints of the stalks upon pretty long pedun- 

 cles; the outer calyx is composed of ten long narrow leaves, which 

 join at their base; the inner is of one thin leaf, swollen like a bladder, 

 cut into five acute segments at the top, having several longitudinal 

 purple ribs, and is hairy ; both these are permanent, and enclose the 

 capsule after the flower is past: the flower is composed of five ob- 

 tuse petals, which spread open at the top, and form an open bell- 

 shaped flower; these have dark purple bottoms, but are of a pale 

 sulphur colour above, tinged sometimes partially with pale purple on 

 the outside, where they are also ribbed: the capsule is ovate, the 

 consistence of paper, pustuled with protuberances occasioned by 

 the seeds, villose and black. It is annual, growing naturally in Italy, 

 &c. The flowers are of short duration, in hot weather continuing 

 only a few hours open; but there is a succession of them daily for a 

 considerable time, in June, July, and August. It has been long 

 known by the title of Venice Mallow. 



There are varieties with erect purplish stems, and the flowers 

 larger, and their colour deeper; and with large paler-coloured 

 flowers. 



