ALTII.EA — MARSH-MALLOW. 



105 



a column and united at tlioir base with the claws of tlio potals ; anthers 

 roiiifonn, nponino- alon<:j the top. Ovary comijound, formed by the unii)ii 

 of several carpels around a coinuioii axis ; styles as many as the carpels, 

 distinct or united. Fruit a niany-valved and usually many-seeded capsule. 

 A largo order of mostly tropical and sub-tropicul plants, many of which 

 are cultivated for (n*namental or econojuic purposes. In general they are 

 nuicilaginous and have no active or deleterious properties. There are, 

 however, some exceptions. The species indigenous to North Amci'ica 

 have not been investigated to any considerable extent, but from what is 

 known of the order as a whole, there is little reason for believing that such 

 investigation would yield very important results. 



ALTH/EA.~Mausu-M.vm,()W. 



Althaea officinalis TjumC^—Mirsh-MnUoir. 



lh'!<friiition. — Calyx : sepals united at the base, the free segments nar- 

 rowly triangular, acute ; involucre of 7 to 10, erect, subulate, triangular 

 segments half as long ars the calyx ; 

 both calyx and involucre dens(!ly 

 ])ubescent, persistent. Corolla : 

 petals obcordate, wedge-shaped, 

 coherent at their bases, pale rose- 

 color, twisted in the bud. Sta- 

 mens as in the character of the 

 order. Ovary roundish, flattened, 

 many-celled, each cell containing 

 a single ovule ; styles mnnerous, 

 coherent at the base, free above, 

 stigmatic on the inner side. Fniit 

 flattened-spherical, composed of 

 luimerous dry, round, flattened, 

 indehiscent carpels attached to, 

 and radiating from a central axis, 

 separating from each other at ma- 

 turity. 



An herbaceous perennial, with 

 a large, long, fleshy, tapering root, 

 and numerous erect, stiff stems, 

 2 to 4 feet high. Leaves on long 

 petioles, the lower roundish-ovate, 

 the upper triangular-oval or some- 

 what 3- to 5-lobed, irregularly cut, 

 acutely serrate, finely pubescent ; stipules narrowly triangular, caducous. 

 Flowers 1 to 2 inches wide, in axillary clusters of 2 to 4 each, and termi- 

 nal, leafy iJanicles, appearing in August and September. 



Fio. 113.-AlthaDa omolnalis. 



