82 Malvacece Ma ha. 



not beaked, whorled, separating from a short conical axis, 

 indehiscent. There are about sixteen species, from Europe, 

 temperate Asia, and northern Africa, some of them widely - 

 spread weeds of cultivation. Named from fjudXa^ij, to soften, 

 referring to the emollient nature of its species. M. sylvestris 

 is a common native erect species with numerous axillary lilac- 

 purple flowers ; and M. rotundifolia is of decumbent habit. 



1 . M. mosehdta.A pretty indigenous perennial species with 

 erect hairy stems 2 to 3 feet high, and deeply divided leaves 

 with pinnatifid lobes. Flowers about 2 inches in diameter, 

 rosy pink, rarely white, borne in clusters at the tops of the stems. 



2. M. Mauritians. An erect annual with palmate! y lobed 

 leaves and large white flowers striped with rose or violet. A 

 native of North Africa. 



3. M. lateritia, syn. Malvdstrum. A prostrate hirsute per- 

 ennial with 3- to 5-lobed leaves and handsome brick-red 

 flowers on long peduncles. A native of South America, bloom- 

 ing in Autumn. 



4. M. crispa. An annual plant with white flowers, more 

 remarkable for its large rounded curled leaves than for its 

 blossom. Native of Syria. 



7, CALLIRHOE. 



Summer-flowering perennial herbs with the habit of Mdlva, 

 differing from that genus in the structure of the carpels, which 

 are provided with a short beak. Involucel of 1 to 3 free bracts, 

 or wanting. These very handsome plants, about seven in 

 number, are from North America. They are sometimes 

 referred to Malva, and formerly they bore the name Nuttdllia. 

 The name is of classical origin. 



1. G. involuerata. This is one of the species with an invo- 

 lucel. It is of straggling habit, with cordate deeply-lobed 

 leaves, lobes again divided into narrow acute segments. 

 Flowers solitary, on long peduncles, purple with a light centre. 



2. G. peddta. An erect branching species, about a yard 

 high, with pedate leaves. Flowers about 3 inches in diameter, 

 purple, with a white spot at the base of each petal. 



Other species are : 0. cordifolia, with pink flowers ; G. 

 digitdta, syn. Nuttdllia grandiflora, destitute of involucel and 

 having fringed petals of a bright crimson purple ; and G. Papd- 

 ver, similar to the last, with a 3-leaved involucel, and rich 

 claret-purple flowers on long peduncles. 



