172 MALVACEAE. 



in aestivation. Stamens equal in number to the petals, 

 and alternating with them, slightly monadelphous, with 

 the vestigium of a filament between each ; anthers two- 

 celled, ovate, and innate. Ovarium with as many cells as 

 there are sepals, styles distinct, equal to the cells, and 

 capitate. Fruit capsular, acuminated from the persistent 

 bases of the styles, many-celled, each cell being imper- 

 fectly divided into two, by a spurious partial dissepiment ; 

 each compartment containing one seed, which is in- 

 verted, compressed, and shining, having the inner layer 

 of the testa tumid, and the albumen mostly wanting ; the 

 embryo is straight, with its radicle towardst the hilum. 



Herbaceous, sometimes suffruticose plants, with entire 

 exstipulate and mostly alternate leaves. Petals fuga- 



Geographical Relations. Spread chiefly over the tem- 

 perate and southern parts of Europe, and northern parts 

 of Africa. 



Properties. Demulcent, and have great tenacity in 

 their fibrous tissue. Oil is found in the seeds of some, 

 which is sometimes purgative. 



Officinal Plant. 

 Linum usitatissimum. 



7. MALVACEAE. 



Sepals 5, more or less connate, often with bractese at 

 their base, valvate in aestivation. Petals equal in num- 

 ber to the sepals, hypogynous, sometimes adhering to 

 the tube of the stamens, contorted during aestivation. 

 Stamens monadelphous, indefinite, hypogynous ; anthers 

 reniform, one-celled, and dehiscing transversely, pollen 

 globose, and hispid ; ovarium of several carpella placed 



