MALVACE^. (MALLOW FAMILY.) 175 



Tribe 1. MAIiVE E. Staminal column anther-bearing to apex. Branches of style 



as many as carpels. Mature carpels separating from axis. 



* Ovules one in each cell, ascending. 



1. ALTHiEA. Bractlets 6-9. Cells not divided by a transverse partition. 



2. ALCEA Bractlets 6-9. Cells partially divided by a transverse partition. 



3. LAVATERA. Bractlets united into a 3-fid involucre. 



4. MALVA. Bractlets 3, distinct, 



* * Ovules one in each cell, pendulous. 



5. Si DA. Bractlets 0. Carpels dehiscent or 2-valved at top. 



6. RIALVALLA. Bractlets setaceous, short. Carpels inflated, indehiscent. 



* * * Ovules 2-several in each cell, some ascending, some pendulous. 



7. ABUTILON. Bractlets 0. Soft velvety or woolly shrubs with yellow flowers, 



Tribe II, HIBISCEyE, Staminal column anther bearing below apex, naked and 

 5-toothed at apex. Branches of style as many as cells of ovary. Carpels united into a 

 loculicidal capsule. 



8. HIBISCUS. Bractlets numerous, linear or setaceous. 



1. ALTH^A, L. Marsh Mallow. Khutmi. 



Bractlets 6-9, connate at base. Calyx 5-fid. Branches of style 

 filiform, stigmatose along their inner face. Carpels whorled around a 

 torus shorter than they, flattened at back, indehiscent, not divided by 

 a partition from the pericarps — Annual or perennial herbs. 



* Annuals. 



1. A. liir§uta, L. .2 to .4, shaggy with long spreading hairs. 

 Leaves round kidney-shaped, crenate, obsoletely lobed, to palmati- 

 partite into 3-5, oblong, cut-crenate lobes. Peduncles solitary, 1- 

 flowered, longer than leaves; involucre-lobes 7-10, linear-lanceolate, 

 shorter than calyx ; petals about as long as or longer than calyx ; 

 carpels glabrous — Spring — Fields ; rather common, from coast to 

 1000 m.- 



2. A. liUd^vigii, L. Hirsute with clustered hairs ; stems 

 prostrate. Leaves giabresceut, round, the lower crenate, the others 

 3-5-lobed or parted into wedge-shaped segments, obtusely dentate at 

 apex. Pedicels «(5/'y short, croicded ; involucre-lobes linear-setaceous ; 

 calyx-lobes lanceolate ; petals somewhat longer than calyx ; carpels 

 glabrous — Spring — Arabia Petrsea. 



* * Perennials. 



3. A. officinalis, L. 1|! Common, or officinal March Mallows. 

 .6 to 1, woolly. Leaves cordate to ovate, unequally toothed, more or 

 less5-3-lobed. Peduncles 1 -several-flowered, much shorter than the leaf ; 

 involucre lobes 7-10, linear-lanceolate, half as long as calyx ; petals 

 twice as long as calyx ; carpels woolly — Summer — Ditches ; Damas- 

 cus to northern Syria, and northward. 



4. A. Arnieiiiaca, Ten. % .6 to 1, tomentellous. Leaves 

 5-3-palmately parted or cut into obovate to oblong, sinuate-toothed, or 

 linear-lanceolate, lobes. Peduncles crowded, generally several-flowered, 

 as long as the leaves or longer ; involucre-lobes lanceolate, half as long 

 as calyx ; petals twice as long as calyx — Summer — Bushy places ; 

 Marash. 



5. A. canuabina, L. 1|! 1 to 1.5, stellate — pubescent, scabridulous. 

 Leaves green, paler ueneath, palmately parted or cut into short-petioled, 



