MAL VACE&. 209 



2. Elodea. Sepals 5, equal, somewhat united. Petals 5, decidu- 

 ous. Stamens in 3 parcels, which alternate with 3 hypogynous glands. 

 Styles 3, distinct. Capsule 3-celled. y 



E. VIRGINICA (Marsh St.-John's-worf). Stem smooth, branching ; 

 leaves sessile, clasping, oblong, obtuse, glaucous beneath ; flowers large, 

 dull orange purple, in racemes ; petals obovate, marked with reddish veins ; 

 stamens united below the middle, 3 in a set. In swamps and ditches, 8'-i6' 

 high. July-August. 



Order XVII. MALVACEAE (Mallow Tribe]. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves alternate, stipulate. Flowers 

 regular, axillary. Sepals 5, somewhat united. Petals alternate 

 with sepals, hypogynous. Stamens numerous, monadelphous, 

 hypogynous, united to the petals at base. Anthers uniform, i- 

 celled, bursting transversely. Pollen hispid. Ovary I, several- 

 celled ; or ovaries several, arranged circularly round a common 

 axis. Fruit a several-celled capsule, or consisting of several sepa- 

 rate or separable i-2-seeded carpels. 



f Calyx without involucel Abutilon. 



MALVACEAE, -j f Involucel 3-leaved Malva. 



\ Calyx with involucel \ Involucel 6-9 cleft Althaea. 



[_ Involucel many-cleft Hibiscus. 



1. Malva. Calyx 5-cleft, with an involucel of 3 leaves. Carpels 

 several, i-celled, i-seeded, dry, indehiscent, circularly arranged. % 



M. ROTUNDIFOLIA (Low Mallow). Stems prostrate, branching; leaves 

 on long petioles, obtusely 5-lobed, crenate ; flowers axillary, pale pink, or 

 whitish ; petals deeply notched ; involucre 3-leaved ; fruit spherical, depressed 

 in the center, mucilaginous. May-September. 



2. Althaea. Calyx with a 6-g-cleft involucel. Carpels numerous, 

 indehiscent, arranged around the axis, separating when ripe. 7f 



A. ROSEA (Hollyhock}. Stem erect, hairy ; leaves rough, cordate, 5-7- 

 angled ; flowers large, axillary, sessile. Flowers red, purple, white, or yel- 

 low, often double. Stem 6-8 feet high. 



3. Hibiscus. Calyx 5-cleft, surrounded by a many-leaved involucel. 

 Stigmas 5. Carpels 5, united into a 5-celled capsule. y. 



H. SYRIACUS (Althcea). Leaves 3-lobed, toothed ; flowers delicate, large, 

 purple, axillary, solitary ; white, red, and variegated flowers. Shrub, 5-10 

 feet high. July-September. 



4. Abutilon. Calyx 5-cleft, without an involucel. Ovary 5-celled, 

 several-seeded. Capsule of 5 or more carpels, 2-valved, i-3-seeded. (D 



