254 HORTICULTURIST'S RULE -BOOK. 



The Mallow family, Malvaceae, has about 60 genera and 700 

 species. The best-known genera are althaea, the hollyhock ; 

 malva, the mallows ; hibiscus ; abutilon ; and gossypium, the 

 cotton. 



The Basswoods or Lindens are 8 in number, growing in 

 northern temperate climates. Three are natives of North 

 America. Tiliaceae, the Basswood family, comprises 40 genera 

 and about 330 species. 



Some 50 species of maples are known, inhabiting Europe, 

 Asia, and America. Nine or 10 grow naturally in North 

 America. The Sapindacese, to which family the maple belongs, 

 is largely tropical. It comprises over 70 genera, and 600 or 700 

 species. ^Esculus, the horse-chestnuts, belong here, and are 

 about 14 in number. 



The Legurninosse or Pulse family is one of the most im- 

 portant orders of plants. It furnishes many foods, fine woods, 

 dyes, medicines, and ornamental plants. Many of the species 

 are extremely important in agriculture because of the great 

 amount of nitrogen they contain. Peas, beans, clover, locusts, 

 acacias, sensitive plant, belong to this family. It comprises 

 about 400 genera and 6500 species. 



The Rosacese or Rose family may be called the fruit family 

 of the north temperate zone. Apples, pears, quinces, June- 

 berries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, plums, 

 apricots, almonds, cherries, all belong here. Prunus, which 

 includes the stone fruits, has about 100 species in various parts 

 of the world, and 25 are North American. Pyrus, including 

 apple, pear, quince, and mountain-ash, has about 40 species, of 

 which 9 are in North America. Of roses, over 250 have been 

 described, but late authorities consider that there are only 

 about 30 good species. Of strawberries, there are 3 or 4 species 

 and of spireas about 50. The whole family has about 1000 

 species and 70 genera. 



Vitis, the grape and its allies, has some 230 species. There 

 are two or three other genera, and about a score of other species 

 in the family, Vitacese or Ampelidese, to which it belongs. 



The Cucurbitacese includes the squashes, pumpkins, cucum- 



