Malva. MALVACE^. Ill 



Group 6. Ovary compound, several-celled, tvith the placent(B in the axis ; or the 



numerous carpels more or less coherent with each oilier, or icith the central axis. 



Calyx free from the ovary, with a valvate cestivation. Stamens numerous, 



monaddphous, free, or somewhat polyadelplwus, inserted with the petals into 



, the receptacle or base of the calyx. 



Order XXII. MALVACE^. Juss. (in part) ; DC. The IMallow Tribe. 



Calyx of 5 (rarely 3 or 4) sejDals, which are more or less united at the base ; 

 often with an involucel, so as to appear double : aestivation valvate. Petals 

 hypogynous, as many as the sepals, twisted in aestivation. Stamens hypo- 

 gynous, usually numerous, monadelphous : anthers one-celled, reniform. 

 Ovary formed by the union of several carpels round a common axis, either 

 distinct or cohering. Styles as many as the carpels, united or distinct. Fruit 

 capsular, or rarely baccate ; carpels one- or many-seeded, sometimes closely 

 united, sometimes separate or separable ; the dehiscence loculicidal or septi- 

 cidal. Seeds with little or no albumen. Embryo curved : cotyledons twisted 

 and doubled up. — Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate, .stipulate, mostly 

 palmately veined : pubescence commonly stellate. 



CONSPECTUS OF THE GENERA. 



1. Malta. Calyx with a 3-Ieaved involucel. Capsules numerous, arranged in a circle round a central axis, one-seeded. 



2. Alth.s:a. Involucel 6 - 9-cleft. Capsules numerous, one-sccded. 



3. Aeutilon. Involucel none. Capsule consisting of 5 or more, 2-valved, 3 - C-seeded, carpels. 



4. SiDA. Involucel none. Carpels 3 or more, 2-valvcd, I-seeded. 



5. Hibiscus. Involucel of several or many narrow leaflets. Stigmas 5. Capsule 5-cclled ; the colls sevcial- (rarely 



1-seeded.) 



1. MALVA. Linn.; Endl. gen. 5271. MALLOW. 



[ The name is said to be altered from the Greek, malo/^lcK, soft ; in allusion to the emoUicnt nature of the species.] 



Calyx 5-cleft, surrounded usually by an involucel of 3 (sometimes 1 - 2, or 5 - 6) oblong or 

 setaceous bracteoles ; very rarely naked. Capsules numerous (rarely only 5), dry, inde- 

 hiscent, one-seeded, circularly arranged round the axis. Radicle inferioi-. 



1. Malva rotxjndifolia, Linn. Dwarf Malloit: Running Mallow. 



*" 'Stem prostrate ; leaves cordate-orbicular, obtusely 5-lobcd, the lobes crenatcly toothed ; 

 petioles pubescent ; pedicels axillary, declined in fruit ; segments of the calyx acutely trian- 



