292 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 



Leaves alternate, digitately compound, leaflets lan- 

 ceolate, cuspidate, entire or serrulate towards the point, 

 glaucous beneath, and with small stipules. 



Flowers appearing before the leaves, in tufts at 

 the ends of the branches, each singly on its peduncle 

 large, white or rose coloured. Calyx cup-shaped, cleft 

 into five teeth. Petals five, slightly connected at the 

 base, overlapping each other. Stamens many in five 

 bundles set opposite the petals, each with two or three 

 long curved anthers, which open each by one curved 

 line. Ovary five celled, style single, stigma five lobed. 

 Fruit dry (a capsule) containing many seeds but open- 

 ing only slowly. Seeds black. 



CHARACTERS OF THE MALVACEAE 



Comparing these examples of the MALVACEAE, we 

 see that the family contains herbs, shrubs and trees, 

 with alternate stipulate leaves which may be simple or 

 palmately compound. Some at any rate have branched, 

 (stellate) hairs scattered over the younger parts. 



The flowers are large and borne singly, not in 

 massed inflorescences, and may have an epi-calyx of 

 bracteoles just below or on x the calyx itself. Sepals 

 five free or as a calyx cup. Petals five overlapping 

 each other and twisted. Stamens many united together 

 into one staminal tube or into five bundles, and con- 

 nected at the base with the petals. Anthers opening by 

 one line only, and more or less kidney-shaped. Ovary 

 of several cells with axile placentas, styles as many, or 

 single, branched or not. Fruit a schizocarp, or capsule, 

 seeds in the latter case numerous and sometimes covered 

 with long hairs (cotton) with a curved embryo inside. 



