MALLOW FAMILY. 65 



Obs. This foreigner is extensively naturalized ; and although some- 

 what popular as an ingredient in cataplasms and demulcent drinks, is 

 generally regarded as an unwelcome intruder in yards and gardens. 

 M. Sylvestris, L., with an erect branching stem, 2-3 feet high and much 

 larger flowers, is naturalized in Western New York. The Curled Mal- 

 low (M. crispa] is found in old gardens. 



3. SI'DA, L. SIDA. 



[The ancient Greek name.] 



Involucel none. Calyx 5-cleft. Petals usually oblique. Styles 5 or more. 

 Fruit when ripe separating into as many 1 -seeded carpels as there are 

 styles, which usually become 2-valved at the summit and at length sepa- 

 rate from the axis. Embryo bent with the radicle pointing upwards. 



1 . S. spino'sa, L. Leaves ovate, lanceolate or oblong with a tubercle at 

 the base of the petiole. 



SPINOSE SIDA. 



Annual. Stem 10-18 inches long, low and branched. Leaves about 2 Inches long, ser- 

 ,te, petioled. Peduncles axillary, solitary, 1-flowered, shorter than the petioles, articu- 

 ted near the yellow flower. 

 Road -sides and waste places ; more common southward. Native of India.v July - August. 



4. ABU'TILON, Tournef. INDIAN-MALLOW. 



[A name supposed to be derived from the Arabs.] 



Carpels numerous, cohering and forming a compound capsule, spreading 

 at the summit where each splits open along the inner edge, scarcely 

 separating at maturity. Seeds 2 - 9 in each carpel. 



1. A. Avicenntz, Gaertn. Leaves orbicular-cordate, acuminate, crenate- 

 dentate, velvety-tomentose ; peduncles axillary, shorter than the petiole. 



AVICENNA'S ABUTILON. Indian-mallow. Velvet-leaf. 



Root annual. Stein, 2-4 or 5 feet high, branched. Leaves 4-6 or 8 inches long ; petioles 3 

 -5 inches long. Petals yellow. Carpels 12-15, verticillately arranged in a flattened, 

 somewhat bell-shaped head. 



Cultivated lots and waste places : introduced. Native of Europe aud Asia. Fl. July 

 -September. Fr. August- October. 



Obs. This foreigner is a worthless and troublesome intruder frequent 

 in Indian-corn fields, Potato patches, and other cultivated lots and is 

 of a size sufficient to be a nuisance. It should be always carefully eradi- 

 cated before it matures its seeds. 



