XXV. MALVACE.T: (masteks). 177 



1. MALVA, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. (ren. PI. i. 201. 



Epicalyx of 3 distinct bracts. Calyx 5-cleft. Petals obcordate. Sta- 

 minal column divided at the summit into oo filaments. Ovary mariv-celled, 

 each cell with a single ovule. Styles as numerous as the cells of the ovary ; 

 stigmas linear, running down the'inner side of the style. Kipe carpels ob- 

 tuse, indehiscent, arranged in an umbilicate whorl around a central axis from 

 Avhich they ultimately separate. Ovule curved. Kadicle inferior.— Herbs 

 wdth soft lobed leaves. Flowers purplish, in axillary fascicles. 



A genus consisting, so far as tropical Africa is concerned, of two species. 



Stem erect. Flowers in dense clusters 1. M. verticillata. 



Stem trailing ; clusters few-flowered 2. M. parvijlora. 



1. M. verticillata, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 433. Annual or perenuial, 

 with an erect, furrowed, branched stem, 2-4 ft. high. Leaves on long stalks, 

 cordate, roundish, 5-6-lobed ; lobes acute or blimt, crenate-serrate, more or 

 less densely covered with stelliform hairs on both surfaces. Flowers in dense 

 axillary or terminal clusters, sessile or shortly stalked. Epicalyx of three 

 linear, ciliolate bracts. Calyx twice the length of the bracts, bell-shaped, 

 5-cleft; lobes triangular, acute. Petals oblong, 2-fid; lobes rounded, 

 slightly exceeding the sepals. Carpels 10-12 in a whorl, enclosed within 

 the accrescent calyx, each one reniform, 3-sided ; back marked with a 

 central prominent nerve, sides with thickened radiating veins. 



Nile Iiand. Abyssinia, Schimper, Petit ! 



This plant has a wide range, being found in India, the mountains of Dahuria, in Amoor- 

 land and Egypt, and it has been introduced into Britain with foreign seeds, etc. 



2. M. parviflora, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 431. An annual plant with 

 slightly hairy or nearly glabrous trailing stems. Leafstalks 3-4 in. long, 

 with a few simple hairs near the top. Leaves cordate, orbicular, palmately 

 nerved, slightly 3-5-lobed, crenate-dentate. Flowerstalks axillary, spread- 

 ing, much shorter than the leaves. Bracts linear. Sepals ovate or roundish, 

 mucronate, spreading, accrescent. Carpels hairy or smooth, transversely 

 netted, rugose. 



Nile Iiand. Nubia, Ehrenberg ! 



This species is found in the Levant, Persia, Affghanistan, and also in Central Arabia. 



2. MALVASTRUM, A. Gray; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 201. 



Epicalyx of 1-3 distinct bractlets or wanting. Calyx 5 -lobed. Staminal 

 column divided at the apex into numerous filaments. Cells of the ovary 5 

 or more, each with a single ovule. Styles equal in number to the cells of 

 the ovary, filiform or club-shaped, with small, terminal, capitate stigmas. 

 Eipe carpels separating from a short columella, indehiscent or somewhat 2- 

 valved, pointless or provided with two erect beaks. Seed ascending, rein- 

 form. — Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves entire or divided. Flowers red or 

 yellow, stalked or nearly sessile, axillary or arranged in terminal spikes. 



A large genus, the majority of whose species are American, the 2 African species being 

 found also widely distributed throughout the tropics of both hemispheres. 

 Tomentum stellate. Flowers in terminal spikes ...... \. M. spxcatum. 



Hairs appressed, parallel. Flowers mostly axillary. Calyx brond . 2. M. tncMptdalnm. 



