Abutilon. MALVACE^. 113 



3. ABUTILON. Dill. ; Endl. gen. 5292, INDIAN MALLOW. 



[A name of uncertain origin. J 



Calyx 5-clcft, without an involucel. Ovary 5- to many-celled, with 3 (or rarely more) ovules 

 in each cell. Capsules composed of 5 or more, 2-valved, 3- (rarely 4 - 6-) seeded carpels. — 

 Leaves cordate, rarely somewhat lobed. Peduncles axillary, solitary or rarely in pairs, 

 1 - 2- or many-flowered ; sometimes (by the abortion of the upper leaves) in terminal 

 racemes. 



1. Abutilon AviCENNiE, G<zrt. Velvet-leaf. 



Leaves orbicular-cordate, velvety-tomentose, acuminate, crenately toothed ; peduncles 

 shorter than the petioles; carpels about 15, truncate, furnished with two oblique beaks, 

 hairy. — Gart.fr. 2. p. 251, t. 135 ; Torr. ^ Gr.Jl. N. Am. I. p. 230. Sida Abutilon, Linn.; 

 Pursh, fl. 2. p. 253 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 162 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 470 ; Torr. compend. p. 255; 

 Darlingt.fl. Cest.p. 397. 



Annual. Stem 2-5 feet high, with spreading branches. Leaves 4-7 inches in diameter, 

 with a slender abrupt acumination. Flowers axillary ; primary ones solitary : from the side 

 of the pedicel arises a short slender branch, bearing several clustered flowers, which are often 

 abortive, and one or two small leaves. Corolla orange-yellow. Capsule an inch in diameter, 

 blackish when mature, crowned with the numerous long beaks of the carpels, which spread 

 in a radiated manner. 



Waste places, gardens and road-sides. Fl. August - October. Introduced from India, 

 and now abundantly naturalized in the middle and southern States. 



4. SIDA. Linn.; Cavan. diss. l.p. 5. . BIDA. 



[ An ancient Greek name, said to have been applied to some malvaceous plant.] 



Calyx 5-cleft, without an involucel, or rarely with 1-2 setaceous bracteoles. Ovary 5- or 

 many-celled, with a single ovule in each cell. Capsule consisting of 5 or more, 1-seeded, 

 usually 2-valved carpels. Radicle (by the resupination of the seed) superior. 



■\ 



1. Sida spinosa, Linn. Prickly Sida. 



Stem minutely pubescent ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, serrately toothed, with a somewhat 

 spiny tubercle at the base of the petiole ; stipules setaceous ; pedicels axillary, solitary or 

 several together, mostly shorter than the petioles ; carpels 5, each witli two beaks. — Michx. 

 ft. 2. p. 43 ; Pursh, fl 2. p. 452 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 161 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 460 ; Darlingt.fl. 

 Cest.p. 397 ; Torr. 4- Gr.fl. N. Am. l.p. 231. 



[Flora.] 15 



