64 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



cultivated ; it has become naturalized along the coast of New England 

 and Long Island. The whole plant, especially the root, contains a great 

 deal of mucilage, and is employed by European physicians for poultices 

 apd such purposes as Slippery Elm bark is used with us. ALTH^A 

 ROSEA is the common Hollyhock of the gardens, many varieties of which 

 are cultivated for ornament. 



2. MAL'VA, L. MALLOW. 



[Latinized from the Greek, Malache, soft ; in allusion to its emollient nature.] 



Involuted of 3 oblong or setaceous bracts. Carpels several, dry, inde- 

 hisceat, arranged in a circle round the axis, as in Althaea. 



1. M. ROTUNDIFO'LIA, L. Stem herbaceous, prostrate ; leaves cordate- 

 orbicular, obscurely lobed, crenate-toothed ; pedicels axillary, 1 -flowered, 

 declined in fruit. 



EOUND-LEAVED MALVA. Running Mallows. Low Mallows. 

 Fr. Petite Mauve. Germ. Rundblaettrige Malve. Span. Malva de 

 hoja redonda. 



Root perennial. Stem 1 - 2 or 3 feet long, branching only at base or from the root. Leaves 

 1 -2 or 3 inches in diameter, obscurely 5-7-lobcd ; petioles 2-6 or 8 inches long. Flowers 

 small ; bracts linear. Petals twice as long as the calyx, reddish white with purple veins. 



Yards, gardens and lots : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May -September. Fr. 

 July -October. 



FIG. 43. Common Mallow (Malva rotund ifolia), a flower. 44. A leaf. 45. An enlarged 

 flower with the petals removed to display the column of united stamens. 46. A ring of 

 united carpels, forming the fruit and a separate carpel. 



