EXOGEN.K THALAMIFLOR.E. 



105 



26. Malvacea. Herbaceous plants, trees, or shrubs. 

 Leaves alternate, stipulate, very often covered with stellate 

 hairs. Flowers generally showy. Calyx with a valvate 

 aestivation. Petals twisted. Stamens indefinite, monadelph- 

 ous ; anthers 1-celled, reniform. Ovary formed by the union 

 of several carpels ; styles the same number as the carpels. 

 Fruit either capsular or baccate ; albumen in small but vari- 

 able quantity; embryo curved, with twisted and doubled 

 cotyledons. 



USES. Mucilaginous ; as Marsh Mallow and common Mal- 

 low. The unripe fruit of Hibiscus esculentus is used as an 

 ingredient in soups. The liber of several affords a tenacious 

 fibre ; the hemp-like substance called Sun in India is obtained 

 from Hibiscus cannabinus. Many are beautiful objects. 

 The hairy seeds of Gossypium furnish cotton. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Malva, Lavatera, Hibiscus. 



Abutilon macropodum. 1. An unexpanded flower. 2. The stamens and styles. 

 3. A ripe fruit, consisting of many carpels, whose upper extremities are free and ra- 

 diant. 4. A section of a seed. 



27. Tiliaceae. Trees or shrubs, very seldom herbaceous 

 plants. Leaves stipulate, alternate. Flowers often small. 

 Calyx valvate. Petals 4 or 5, usually with a little pit at their 

 base. Stamens distinct; anthers 2-celled. Ovary single, 

 composed of from 4 to 10 carpels; style one; stigmas as 

 many as the carpels. Seeds several ; embryo erect in the 

 axis of fleshy albumen, with flat foliaceous cotyledons. 



