946 ALTHOZEA. [CLASS XVI. ORDER III. 
erect, from one to two feet high, round, or somewhat angular, simple 
or branched. Leaves numerous, the lower and radical ones rounded, 
of from five to seven lobes, obtuse, and acutely serrated and cut, the 
footstalks long. Stipules linear, awl-shaped, membranous, the upper 
leaves are divided to the base into five parts, and each part is nume- 
rously cut into narrow linear mostly waved segments. Inflorescence 
numerous flowers, congested into a terminal head, and occasionally 
a single flower in the axis of the upper leaves. Peduneles round, 
short, hairy, bearing a single large rose coloured flower, the involu- 
erum of three linear pieces. Calyx rather large, pale green, cut into - 
five broad ovate acutely pointed lobes. Corolla of five wedge-shaped 
petals, notched and waved at the end. Fruit numerous, carpels 
united together round a common axis, covered over with dense silky 
pubescence, each carpel is kidney-shaped, and bears a single kidney- 
shaped seed. 
Habitat—Meadows, pastures, and lanes in waste places; not 
unfrequent. 
Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 
The flowers of this species are extremely showy and beautiful, 
which has obtained it a place in flower gardens. The odour which 
is exhales from the leaves is not very powerful, it is much more 
observed when the plantis gently drawn through the hand. A white 
flowered variety is sometimes found, which is very delicate and pretty, 
but not so beautiful as the more common one. About a hundred 
species of Malva are now known, all of which possess demulcent pro- 
perties, from the quantity of mucilaginous matter with which the 
whole plant abounds. Many of them are very handsome ornamental 
plants, and are cultivated on that account. 
GENUS V. ALTH'A.—Lixsyn. Marsh Mallow. 
Nat. Ord. Matva'cE#. Brown. 
Gen. Cuan. Calyx surrounded by an involucrum, of from six to 
nine lobes. Fruit of numerous one seeded capsules, arranged in 
a circle round a common axis, in a five lobed head.—Name urdu, 
to cure ; from its healing properties. 
1. A. officina'lis, Linn. (Fig. 1098.) Common Marsh Mallow. 
Leaves soft and downy on both sides, ovate, or heart-shaped, unequally 
serrated, the lower ones five lobed, and the upper three; flowers 
numerous in axillary clusters, shorter than the leaves. 
English Botany, t. 147.—English Flora, vol. iii. p. 244.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 262.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 41. 
Root long, tapering, white, the whole plant thickly clothed with a 
very soft starry pubescence. Stems usually several, about three feet 
