MALLOW FAMILY. 63 



used formerly, as a pot-herb ; but is now generally superseded by better 

 ones, and is, indeed, only entitled to notice, here, as a troublesome 

 weed in gardens. P. grandiflora, P. Gillesii and others, having terete 

 leaves, hairy axils and showy flowers are now common in gardens ; they 

 are known in some places as " Wax Pinks ; ; ' they become quite perma- 

 nently established where they are once introduced and will doubtless 

 become weeds wherever they escape from cultivation. 



OEDER X. MALTA' CEJE. (MALLOW FAMILY.) 



Herbs or shrubs, with alternate, palmatcly- veined leaves furnished with stipules. Flmws 

 regular, mostly large, often with an involucel forming a double calyx. Calyx rtlbstly of 

 5 sepals, more or less united at base. Petals as many as the sepals, convolute in the 

 bud. Stamens monadelphous, often indefinite ; anthers reniform, 1-celled. Styles as many 

 as the carpels, distinct or united below. Fruit capsular, or the carpels separate or separa- 

 ble. Seeds with little albumen ; cotyledons foliaceous, plicate and twisted. Mucilaginous 

 plants with a tough bark. 



An Order comprising about 30 genera, and numerous species some of them showy and 

 handsome. They are generally remarkable for their mucilaginous and demulcent prop- 

 erties : but the Cotton plant is preeminently interesting to the American people both as 

 yielding the great staple of the exports from the Southern States, and of the manufacture* 

 of the N T or them States. There are, however, but few other plants of Agricultural im- 

 portance belonging to the Order. 



\ 1. Anthers at the top of the column of united filaments. Cells of the 

 fruit united in a ring around a central axis from which they fall 

 away when ripe. 



Involucel present. Carpels 1-seeded. 



Involucel 6- 9-par ted. Plant soft downy. 1. ALTILEA. 



Involucel 3-leaved. 2. MALVA. 



Involucel none. Carpels 1- several-seeded. 



Seeds one in each cell. 3. Sn>A. 



Seeds 2-9 in each cell. 4. ABUTILON. 



2. Anthers along the sides of the upper part of the column of united 

 filaments. Pod of 3-5 cells, splitting into as many valves. 

 Involucel of many thread-shaped leaves. 



Calyx splitting down one side when the flower opens. Pod 



long. 5. ABELMOSCHUS. 



Calyx not splitting down one side. Pod short. Seeds naked. 6. HIBISCUS. 

 Involucel of 3 heart-shaped, toothed leaves. Seeds bearing 

 long wool. 7. GOSSYPII-M 



1. ALTH^E'A, L. MARSH-MALLOW. 



[Greek, Altho, to heal ; from its reputed virtues.] 



Involucel 6-9 cleft. Fruit depressed, consisting of numerous 1-seeded, 

 round-kidney shaped, indehiscent carpels, arranged in a ring around a 

 central axis. 



1. A. officina'lii, L. Leaves ovate or somewhat heart-shaped, often 3-lobed, 

 velvety ; peduncles axillary, many-flowered. 



OFFICINAL ALTH^A. Marsh-mallow. 



Perennial. Root fusiform. Stem 2-4 feet high, erect. Leaves 2-4 inches lone with 

 petioles about half their length. Flowers pale rose color, sub-paniculate. 

 Cultivated, and spontaneous in salt marshes. July -September. 



Obs. The Marsh-mallow is a native of Europe, and is sometimes, 



