363 



MALVACEAE. 



[Hypogynous Exooe.ns. 



Order CXXX. MALVACEAE.— Mallow worts. 



Malvaceae, Juts. Gen. 271. (1789) in part.; Brown in Voy. to Congo, p. 8: Kunth. Diss, p.l; DC. 

 Prodr. 1. 429. (1829); Endl. Gen. ccix.; Afetoier, Gen. p. 26. ; Wight. Illustr.l. p. 55. 



Diagnosis.— iJfaZraZ Exogens, with columnar stamens all perfect, and \-celled anthers 



turned inwards. 

 Herbaceous plants, trees, or shrubs. Leaves alternate, more or less divided, stipulate. 

 Hairs stellate if present. Peduncles usually axillary. Flowers showy, often inclosed 

 in an involucre of various forms. Sepals 5, very seldom 3 or 4, more or less united at the 



r^\ 



base, with a valvate testivation. Petals of 

 the same number as the sepals, hypogynous, 

 with a twisted aestivation, either distinct 

 or adhering to the tube of the stamens. 

 Stamens 00, all perfect, hypogynous ; fila- 

 ments monadelphous ; anthers 1 -celled, 

 reniform, bursting transversely. Ovary 

 formed by the union of several carpels 

 round a common axis, either distinct or 

 united ; ovules definite or indefinite, attached 

 to the inner angle of the cells, amphitropal 

 or semianatropal ; stvles the same number as the carpels, either united or distinct ; 

 stigmas variable. Fruit either capsular or baccate, its carpels being either mouosper- 



Fig. CCLVI.— Ahutilon macropodum. 1. an unexpended flower ; 2. the stamens and styles; 

 3. a ripe fruit, consisting of many carpels, whose upper extremities are free and radiant ; 4. a ripe 

 fruit of the Malva sylvestris, natural size ; 5. a transverse section of the same fruit, from which all the 

 seeds have heen taken except one, which is seen at C ; 6. a section of a calyx, showing its vahate 

 structure. 



CCLVI. 



