MALVACEAE. 57 



gions. They abound in mucilage, and are destitute of any un- 

 wholesome properties. The fibres of the bark of many of the 

 species, are so tenacious, as to be capable of being manufactured 

 into very good cordage. 



I. MALVA. Mallow. 



Calyx surrounded by an involucre of 3-, rarely 5-6, 

 oblong or setaceous bracteoles. Carpels capsular, nu- 

 merous, circularly arranged, 1-seeded. 



Plants belonging to this genus abound in a mucilaginous 

 juice. Name, derived by the Latins from /z.aXax.j soft, in allu- 

 sion to the emollient nature of the species. 



1. Malva tricuspidata. West India Mallow. 



Leaves ovate or ovato-oblong serrated, flowers 

 axillary solitary crowded with the leaves at the ends 

 of the branches in a spike-like manner, carpels 3-cus- 

 pidate 1-seeded. 



M. Americana, Cav. diss. II. t. 22. f. 2 M. Coromandeli- 

 ana, Stvartz, Obs. 262. Willd. Sp. III. 776. Sida Jamaiicen- 

 sis, Miller, Diet. 



HAE. Common. 



J J . Throughout the year. 



Suffruticose, about a foot in height : branches hirsute with 

 appressed hairs, compressed especially towards the ex- 

 tremities. Leaves alternate, petiolate, ovate or oblongo-ovate, 

 acute, coarsely serrated, entire towards the base, sparingly 

 hirsute, penni-nerved : petiole terete, hirsute, nearly an inch in 

 length. Stipules half the length of the petiole, lanceolate, cili- 

 ated. Peduncles half the length of the stipules, axillary, sub- 

 solitary, being accompanied by a short leafy flowering branchlet, 

 crowded at the ends of the branches in a spike-like manner, but 

 with a leaf (sometimes only imperfectly developed) below each. 

 Leaflets of the involucre 3, lanceolate, length of the calyx : 

 calyx 5- partite, ciliated. Petals obliquely truncated. Column 

 of the stamens glabrous : filaments, where free, twisted and in- 

 terlaced. Styles 10, reflected below the anthers: stigmata ca- 

 pitate, papillose. Carpels 10-12, with an apicula at the inner 

 angle, and two spreading horn-like apieulae at the outer : seeds 

 reniform. 



According to former authors, the flowers are crowded in the 

 axils of the leaves ; whereas the flowers are axillary solitary 

 and crowded with the leaves, into a spike-like form. This 

 species, like its cogeners, abounds in a mucilaginous juice, and 

 is employed by the Negro women, as a substitute for soap, in 



