MALVACE.^^— MALLOW FAMILY 



SWAMP ROSE-MALLOW 



Hibiscus moscheMos 



Hibiscus, an ancient name of obscure origin. 



A tall native perennial, sending up strong leafy canes 

 each year which bear at their summit large Hollyhock-like 

 flowers. Found in marshes, along the coast from Mas- 

 sachusetts to Florida and in interior marshes west to 

 Michigan and Minnesota. July-September. 



Stem. — Three to five feet high, leafy, hairy. 



Leaves. — Alternate, large, ovate, sometimes three- 

 lobed, crenate or dentate, with hairs beneath, petioled. 



Flowers. — Of Hollyhock type, showy, on one-flowered 

 peduncles, four to six inches across, rose or white, with or 

 without a crimson eye. 



Calyx. — Five-cleft, with an involucre of ten linear 

 bractlets; not inflated in fruit. 



Corolla. — Five, obovate petals, ranging in color through 

 rose to white. 



Stamens. — United into a long column, bearing anthers 

 for much of its length. 



Pistil. — Ovary five-celled; styles united, bearing in full 

 view above the stamen column five stigmatic balls. 



Fruit. — Capsule, subglobose, five-celled. Seeds several 

 or many in each cell. 



The Swamp Rose-Mallow is one of the most beauti- 

 ful of our wildlings. Growing in the swampy tangle 

 among Sedges and Cat-tails, its magnificent flowers 

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