MALLOW FAMILY 487 



belongs, and the Rue family (Rutacea), the family of citrous 

 fruits, such as Oranges, Lemons, Tangerines, Grapefruit, and 

 others. 



Maple Family (Aceraceae). This family is composed chiefly 

 of the Maples, valuable trees for shade, lumber, and yielding a 

 sweet sap from which maple syrup and sugar are obtained. 

 Closely related to the Maples are the Buckeyes which are also 

 important shade trees. 



Mallow Family (Malvaceae) . This family is a notable one 

 chiefly because it includes the Cotton plant (Fig. 435). The 



FIG. 435. A Cotton Plant, showing the general character of the plant. 

 X about 3^. After Orton. 



flowers have five sepals and five petals. The stamens are 

 numerous and united, and the pistil is composed of a number 

 of carpels united at the base. The sepals are also partly united 

 (Fig. 9). 



Cotton surpasses all other plants of the family in value. 

 To this family also belongs the Theobroma Cacao, a small tree 

 which yields cocoa and chocolate. The Shrubby Althaea and 

 Hollyhock are of some importance as ornamental plants, while 

 the Indian Mallow (Abutilon Theophrasti) , Flower-of-an-hour 

 (Hibiscus Trionum), and a few others are more or less trouble- 

 some weeds. 



