340 THE KINDS OF PLANTS 



of each petal: style 3-lol)ed: ovary 1-celled: capsule S-valved, few-seeded: 

 stem erect, usually bearing 2 leaves and terminating in a raceme. Among 

 the first spring flowers in open woods. 



C. Virginica, Linn. Leaves thickish, linear-lanceolate, 3-6 in. long, 

 nearly sessile: stem about 3 in. from tuberous root, bearing 2 (3 or 4 occa- 

 sionally) leaves: petals white or pink with darker veins, emarginate }4-% 

 in. long: sepals and petals obtuse. 



C. Caroliniana. .^lichx. Leaves 1-2 in. long, oblong or oval to spatulate, 

 short-petioled: Howers fewer than in preceding, white or pinkish, veined. 



XXIV. MALVACE^. Mallow Family. 



Herbs or shrubs (trees in the tropics) with alternate, mostly 

 simple leaves whicU n;ive stipules : flowers perfect and regular, 

 5-merous, often subtended by a calyx-like involucre, the petals 

 5: stamens many, united in a column which closely surrounds 

 the several styles: ovaries several, eonnivent into a ring or some- 

 times united into a compound pistil, in fruit making 1- seeded 

 1-loculed more or less indehiscent carpels or a several -loculed cap- 

 sule. About 60 genera and 700 species. Representative plants are 

 mallow, hollyhock, abutilon, hibiscus, althea, okra, cotton. 



A. Anthers borne only at the top of the stamen-tube. 



B. Fruits 1-seeded, forming a ring at the base of the styles. 



0. Involucre of 3 bracts 1. Malva 



cc. Involucre of 6-9 bracts 2. Althcea 



BB. Fruit of several-seeded carpels 3. Abutilon 



AA. Anthers borne all along the side of the stamen-tube .4. Hibiscus 



1. MALVA. Mallow. 



Herbs, with a 3-leaved involucre like an extra calyx: petals obcordate: 

 carpels many in a ring, separating at maturity, 1-seeded and indehiscent: 

 leaves usually nearly orbicular in general outline. 



M. rotundiJolia, Linn. Common mallow. Cheeses. Fig. 224. Trail- 

 ing biennial or perennial, rooting: leaves orbicular, indistinctly lobed, 

 toothed : flowers small, white or pinkish, clustered in the axils. Yards 

 and roadsides; from Europe. A common weed. 



2. ALTHJEA. Marsh Mallow. 



Differs from Malva chiefly in having a 6-9-cleft involucre. 

 A. rbsea, Cav. Hollyhock. Figs. 206, 207, 235. Tall perennial, with 

 angled or 5-7-lobed cordate leaves, and large flowers in many colors. China. 



3. ABtTTILON. Indian Mallow. Fig. 170. 



Mostly shrubs, often with maple-like leaves, and no involucre to the 

 flower: ovaries and fruita several-seeded. Contams conservatory plaats. 



