90 LETTER VI. 



Each carpel {fig^ 5.) contains one seed, with an 

 embryo curiously doubled up and filling the whole of 

 the cavity ; hence as the carpels are all of the same 

 size, and arranged with the most exact regularity on 

 the same level, if a fruit is cut through it will present 

 a singularly beautiful arrangement of the parts, which 

 look like a vegetable star. In the centre, if the fruit 

 is not ripe, is a solid circle from which eleven rays 

 branch off at regular distances, each being sub-divided 

 into two. Between the rays lie eleven embryos, the 

 various convolutions of which, as cut through by the 

 knife, exhibit eleven areas of strange patterns. The 

 kaleidoscope itself can produce nothing prettier than 

 this, except in colour. 



This account is that of all the Mallow tribe in most 

 respects ; and is quite sufficient to enable you to 

 identify it : a power that it is useful to possess because 

 the species are all perfectly innocent. The columnar 

 stamens themselves suffice in a majority of cases. 



The species yield a large quantity of a ropy transpa- 

 rent almost tasteless fluid, in all the green parts ; and 

 it is for this that the cheeses are sought with so much 

 avidity. In India a daily use is made of the cheeses 

 of a ]\Ialvaceous plant called Ockro, or in some places 

 C^oZ'^o (Hibiscus esculentus), the mucilage of which 

 is in great request for thickening soups : it is even 

 imported in a dry state into England. Marsh Mallow, 

 which possesses this mucilaginous quality in a high 

 degree, in all its parts, is a favourite material with 

 many physicians, especially the French, for poultices. 



We are, however, far from exhausting the properties 



