MARSH-MALLOW. 109 



length, broadly ovate, somewhat cordate, with from three to five 

 angular lobes, plaited, unequally serrate at the margin, and 

 with two stipulae at the base of each footstalk : they are soft to 

 the touch, being covered with a very dense, velvety, stellate pu- 

 bescence. The flowers are nearly sessile and combined into small 

 panicles, proceeding from the axils of the upper leaves. The 

 calyx is double, the outer (involucre ?) consists of six to nine 

 deep segments ; the inner has five broader concave divisions. 

 The petals are five, obcordate, emarginate, twice as long as the 

 calyx, unguiculate, of a light roseate colour marked with deeper 

 veins. The filaments are numerous, white, connected at the 

 base into a cylindrical column, free above, tipped with reniform 

 one- celled anthers. The germen consists of several carpels 

 dispossd in a circle, with a cylindrical style, terminated by 

 numerous subulate stigmas. The fruit is composed of nume- 

 rous (about twenty) carpels or capsules, arranged in a circle 

 round the base of the style, depressed, each containing a single 

 reniform compressed brown seed. Plate 31, fig. 4, (a) the 

 double calyx; (b) section of corolla and staminiferous column ; 

 (c) pistil ; (d) orbicular depressed fruit, from which one of the 

 capsules has been removed ; (e) capsule, isolated. 



Common Marsh-Mallow is a native of the greater part of 

 Europe, and abounds in this country in marshes, especially 

 towards the sea-coast. It flowers in August and September. 



This plant is in all probability the akQxia. and i@io-x.og of 

 Dioscorides ; the former from which the generic name is de- 

 rived, comes from a\Qo$, a remedy, in allusion to the eminent 

 medicinal properties of the Mallow. Hence also the old names 

 Vismalva, Bismalva, Malvaviseus, &c.* The French name 

 Guimauve, signifies Viscous Mallow. 



The Hollyhocks (Alcea, Linn.) are now generally united with 

 Althaea, otherwise it is not a large genus. The only British 

 species besides the one here described is the Hispid Marsh- 

 Mallow, (A. hispida,) distinguished by its cordate rough leaves, 

 hispid stems, and single-flowered peduncles. The common Mallow 

 (Malva sylvestris) in general aspect much resembles the Marsh- 



* It is also supposed to be the hibiscus mentioned by Virgil :— 

 w gregem viridi compellere hibisco." — Eel. ii. v. 30. 



