372 THE KINDS OF PLANTS 



stem erect, usually bearing 2 leaves and terminating in a raceme. Among 

 the first spring flowers in open woods. 



C. virginica, Linn. Leaves thickish, linear-lanceolate, 3-6 in. long, 

 nearly sessile: stem about 3 in. from tuberous root, bearing 2 (3 or 4 occa- 

 sionally) leaves: petals white or pink with darker veins, emarginate M-% 

 in. long; sepals and petals obtuse. 



C. caroliniana, Michx. Leaves 1-2 in. long, oblong or oval to spatulate, 

 short-petioled: flowers fewer than in preceding, white or pinkish, veined. 



XXIV. MALVACEAE. MALLOW FAMILY. 



Herbs or shrubs (trees in the tropics) with alternate, mostly simple 

 leaves which have stipules: flowers perfect and regular, 5-merous, 

 often subtended by a calyx-like involucre, the petals 5; stamens 

 many, united in a column which closely surrounds the several styles; 

 ovaries several, connivent into a ring or sometimes united into a com- 

 pound pistil, in fruit making 1-seeded 1-loculed more or less indehis- 

 cent carpels or a several-loculed capsule. About 60 genera and 700 

 species. Representative plants are mallow, hollyhock, abutilon, hibis- 

 cus, althea, okra, cotton. 



A. Anthers borne only at the top of the stamen-tube. 



B. Fruits 1-seeded, forming a ring at the base of the styles. 



c. Involucre of 3 bracts 1. Malva 



cc. Involucre of 6-9 bracts 2. Althaea 



BB. Fruit of several-seeded carpels 3. Abutilon 



AA. Anthers borne all along the side of the stamen-tube 4. Hibiscus 



1. MALVA. MALLOW. 



Herbs, with a 3-leaved involucre like an extra calyx; petals obcordate; 

 carpels many in a ring, separating at maturity, 1-seeded and indehiscent: 

 leaves usually nearly orbicular in general outline. 



M. rotundiffilia, Linn. Common mallow. Cheeses. Fig. 248. Trailing 

 biennial or perennial, rooting; leaves orbicular, indistinctly lobed, toothed: 

 flowers small, white or pinkish, clustered in the axils. Yards and roadsides; 

 from Europe. A common weed. 



2. ALTHJfcA. MARSH MALLOW. 



Differs from Malva chiefly in having a 6-9-cleft involucre. 

 A. rdsea, Cav. Hollyhock. Figs. 222, 223, 263. Tall perennial, with 

 angled or 5-7-lobed cordate leaves, and large flowers in many colors. China. 



3. ABtTTILON. INDIAN MALLOW. Fig. 182. 



Mostly shrubs, often with maple-like leaves, and no involucre to the 

 flower: ovaries and fruits several -seeded. Contains conservatory plants. 

 Fig. 520. 



