28 XXII. MALVACEiE. 



along the inner face. Fruit of many reniform, dry, 1-seeded, 

 separable carpels. — Fl. Cap. i. p. 158. 



Annuals or perennials, natives chiefly of tlie northern hemisphere. A. 

 Ludwiqii, Linn., a hispid, much-branelied annual, witli nearly glabrous, 

 deeply 5-lobed leaves, and axillaiy white flowers, occurs at the Orange River. 

 A. BurchelUi, DC, an endemic species, is unknown to me. 



2. MALVA, Linn. 



Involucel 3-bracted, persistent. Staminal column bearing 

 anthers at the multifid summit. Ovary of many carpels ; 

 styles as many as the carpels, stigmatose along the inner 

 face ; ovules solitary. Fruit of many dry, 1-seeded, hard- 

 shelled, indehiscent, separable carpels ; seed filling the ca\dty. 

 —FL Cap. i. p. 159. 



Herbs, natives of temperate climates. M. parviflora, Linn., a prostrate 

 procumbent plant, with long-petioled, reniform, bluntly 5-7-lobed leaves, 

 and small, clustered, subsessile, axillary flowers (a European weed), occurs 

 on roadsides and in waste places. 



3. MALVASTRUM, A. Oray. 



Involucel 3-bracted or wanting. Styles capitellate. Other 

 characters as in Malva. — Fl. Cap. i. p. 159. 



Herbs or small shrubs, known from Malva by the capitate stigmas. 

 Leaves lobed, stipuled. Flowers axillary or racemose. About 15 South 

 African species, dispersed. 



4. SPH^RALCEA, St. Hil. 



Involucel of 3 (or 2) narrow bracteoles, or monophyllous 

 and 3-fid. Staminal column and stigmas as in Malvastruin. 

 Ovules 2-3 in each carpel. Fruit of many compressed, 2- 

 valved, dehiscing, 2-3-seeded carpels, separating at maturity 

 from a central torus. — Fl. Cap. i. p. 165. Also Sphaeroma, 

 Harv. I. c. p. 166. 



Herbs or shrubs, with the habit of Malvastrum. — 4 South African species, 

 natives of the Western and Northern districts ; 2 have 3-leaved and 2 have 

 3-fid iuvolucels, the latter constituting the subgenus Sjjh(sroma. 



5. SID A, Linn. 



Involucel 0. Staminal column antheriferous at its mul- 

 tifid summit. Ovary of 5-15 carpels ; styles 5-15 ; stigmas 

 capitellate ; ovule solitary, pendulous. Fruit of 5-15 1-seeded 

 carpels, dehiscent at the summit and at length separating ; 

 seed 3-cornered, susjDended. — Fl. Cap. i. p. 166. 



An immense tropical or subtropical genus, very various in aspect. 5 spe- 

 cies in the Eastern district and at Natal, of which 2 are endemic, the others 

 subtropical weeds. — Leaves entire or lobed, often penniuerved. Flowers 

 small, yellow or white. 



