MALVACEAE 245 



Seedlings. The cotyledons of the various types which have 

 come under my notice are nearly all modifications of the same 

 plan ; but they may be classified under six headings, namely, 

 cordate, roundly cordate, reniform, ovate, oblong, and trans- 

 versely oblong. 



Malva moschata (fig. 211) may be taken as a good represen- 

 tative of the first group. The cotyledons are slightly unequal 

 in size, cordate, minutely emarginate, obsoletely tri-lobed 

 or -angled towards the apex, and trinerved. The angled 

 appearance is due to the manner of the folding while yet in 

 the seed (see ante, p. 41). It is even more distinct in some 

 species than in this. In species belonging to many other 

 genera the cotyledons are merely slightly constricted below 

 the tip instead of being angled. Malva sylvestris, M. rotundi- 

 folia, Sidalcea malvseflora, Malvastrum peruvianum, Navaa 

 phcenicea, Lagunaria Pater sonii, Abutilon asiaticum, and 

 Eriodendron anfractuosum (fig. 216) agree generally with this 

 type. The last named is notable for the size and persistency 

 of its cotyledons. 



Lavatera trimestris differs only in the depth of the apical 

 notch or emargination. In several of the above species there 

 is no apical notch at all. The cordate base is, however, a 

 very persistent character and runs almost throughout the 

 Order. It is due to the manner in which the cotyledons fold 

 round the radicle. 



Eoundly cordate cotyledons are represented by Hibiscus 

 pedunculatus (fig. 213). One feature here is that one of the 

 cotyledons is inclined to be narrowed to an obsolete blunt point, 

 while the other, generally the larger, is emarginate. Hibiscus 

 Abelmoschus, H. brasiliensis, H. vitifolius, Calirrhoe pedata, 

 Abutilon vitifolium, and Pavonia hastata agree with the above 

 in all important particulars. The bluntness of the cotyledons 

 seems to be due to the size of the seed, and the amount of 

 folding, as seen in Hibiscus Sabdariffa. 



The process seems to be carried still further in Hibiscus 

 phceniceus, which represents the reniform type ; where the 

 cotyledons have grown more in width than length. Malva- 

 viscus arboreus differs only in being slightly more rounded. 



Modiola multifida (fig. 212) has small, ovate, trinerved 



