1-88 THE MAl/XdW TAMIIT. 



to 6 or 8 inches high, with small, opposite, obovate or oblong leaves, and 

 very small flowers, of a pure white, on long, slender pedicels. Sepals all 

 pointed. Petals obovate, scarcely 2 Unes long. 



In meadows and pastures, very common throughout Europe, except the 

 extreme north, and in west central Asia. Abundant in Britain. Fl. all 

 summer. 



II. AX.I.SEED. RADIOLA. 



A single species, separated from Flax on account of the parts of the flower 

 and fruit being in fours instead of in fives, and the sepals united to near the 

 middle in a several-toothed calyx. 



1. Common Allseed. Radiola Millegrana, Sm'. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 893.) 



A minute, erect annual, with very numerous, repeatedly forked branches, 

 forming dense corymbose tufts, 1 to 2 inches high, with minute, globular 

 flowers, on short pedicels. Leaves small, opposite. Calyx-teeth 8 or 12, 

 Petals 4, about the length of the calyx. 



On sandy heaths and waste places, in central and southern Europe to the 

 Caucasus, extending northward into southern Scandinavia. Generally spread 

 over Britain, and very abundant in some locaUties, though scarce in other 

 districts. Fl. summer. 



XVI. THE MALLOW FAMILY. MALVACB^. 



Herbs or soft-wooded shrubs, with alternate, stipulate, pal- 

 mately- veined leaves, and regular flowers. Calyx of 5 divisions, 

 valvate in the bud, and (in the British genera) 3 or more bracts 

 at the base, forming an involucre or so-called outer calyx. Petals 

 5, twisted in the bud, and cohering, by their short claws, to the 

 staminal tube. Stamens numerous, their filaments united in a 

 tube round the pistil, the anthers 1-celled. Ovaries (in the 

 British genera) several, arranged in a ring round a common 

 axis. Styles as many as ovaries, all free, or united at the base. 

 Pruit (in the British genera) separating into as many carpels 

 as ovaries. Seeds one or several in each carpel, attached to the 

 inner angle, kidney-shaped, with a curved embryo and little 

 albumen. 



A very extensive, and generally natural family, widely distributed, chiefly 

 over the warmer climates of the globe. The three British genera, all closely 

 allied to each other, only represent one of the two forms of ovary and fruit 

 prevailing in the Order. In Hibiscus, Abutilon, and several other exotic 

 genera, the carpels are all united into a single several-celled ovary and 

 fruit. 



Exterior bracts united at tlie base iiito ail iiivolucre or oiitfer calyi. 



Involucre 3-lobed i 1. Lavateba.. 



i Involucre of 5 or more divisions 3. Ai.Ta«A. 



Exterior bracts 3, distinct from each other, inserted on the calyx ; . ?. jSlALtoW. 



