5 8 THE FLORA OF THE ALPS 



Order XVI. MALVACEAE. 



Flowers regular ; calyx 5-lobed, often with an epicalyx ; 

 petals 5, twisted in the bud ; stamens numerous, the 

 filaments united into a tube surrounding the numerous; 

 styles; seed-vessel composed of many carpels; leaves 

 stipulate. A large order, chiefly tropical and subtropical ; 

 no alpine species. 



i. MALVA, L. 



Flowers axillary, conspicuous, fugacious, subtended by 

 an epicalyx of 3 bracts ; seed-vessel a flat whorl of nume- 

 rous i -seeded indehiscent carpels. 



The two common English Mallows, M. sylvestris, L., 

 and rotundifolia y L., are widely distributed ; and M. mos- 

 chata, L., Musk Mallow, with lighter coloured flowers and 

 more divided leaves, occurs occasionally. Also M. Alcea, 

 L. ; bracts of epicalyx ovate, acute, leaves deeply divided, 

 plant hairy; road-sides, frequent. 



2. ALTH^A, L. 



Flowers axillary or in racemes, large ; epicalyx of 6-9 

 bracts. 



A. hirsuta, L. ; flowers I in. diam., pink, on long 

 stalks, leaves kidney-shaped, on long stalks, plant hispid ; 

 cultivated land, occasional. A. offidnalis, L., Marsh 

 Mallow; flowers 1-2 in. diam., pink, in axillary cymes, 

 leaves on short stalks, a pubescent shrub ; marshes, but 

 usually introduced. 



Other species of Althcea, also of Lavatera, L., some of 



