27 



Oeder XXII. MALVACE^. 



Plowers bisexual, regular, mostly conspicuous. Calyx 5-fid, 

 with valvate aestivation, mostly involucelled at base. Petals 

 5, strongly twisted in bud, withering and persistent, attached to 

 the base of the staminal column. Stamens many, united in a 

 tube, concealing the ovary and styles; anthers reniform, 1-celled. 

 Carpels 3-5 or many, free or combined in a several-celled 

 ovary. Fruit dry or fleshy. Seeds with a curved embryo, 

 plaited cotyledons, and little or no albumen. — Leaves alter- 

 nate, simple, palmately nerved, often lobed, stipuled. 



Tribe 1. Malve^e. Staminal column bearing anthers at or to the very 

 summit. Carpels separable at maturity. Stigmas as many as the carpels. 

 (Gen. 1-6.) 



Styles filiform, stigmatose along the upper side ; calyx 

 furnished with an involucel. 



Involucel of 6-9 bracteoles 1. Althjea. 



Involucel of 3 bracteoles 2. Malva. 



Styles capitellate, the stigmatic tissue confined to the 

 apex. 

 Calyx with an involucel. 



Ovules solitary. Involucel 3-bracted 3. Malvastrum. 



Ovules 2-3 in each carpel. Involucel 3-leaved or 



3-fid 4. Sph^ralcea. 



Calyx nude at base. 



Ovules solitary 5. SiDA. 



Ovvdes 3 or more in each carpel 6. Abutilon. 



Tribe 2. Urene.e. Staminal column bearing anthers on its outer surface, 

 the apex with none, protruding, truncate or 5-toothed. Carpels separable 

 at maturity. Stigmas twice as many as the carpels (10), capitellate at the 

 summit. (Gen. 7.) 



Involucel 5-20-leaved 7. Pavonia. 



Tribe 3. Hibisce^. Staminal column bearing anthers on its outer sur- 

 face, the apex nude, protruding, truncate or 5-toothed. Carpels united into 

 a several-celled capsule. Stigmas as many as the carpels (3-5), capitate. 

 (Gen. 8-10.) 



Ovary 3-celled ; styles 3 ; bracteoles 3 or many ... 8. Fugosia. 

 Ovary 5-celled. 



Involucral bracteoles 5 or many, separate .... 9. Hibiscus. 



Invoiucral bracteoles imited in a toothed cup . . .10. Paeitium. 



Tribe 1. Malve^. (Gren. 1-6.) 



1. ALTH^A, Linn. * 



Involucel of 6-9 bracteoles, united at base. Staminal co- 

 lumn antheriferous at the summit. Ovary of many carpels ; 

 ovules solitary ; styles as many as the carpels, stigmatose 



