Among the plants of the MaUotv family, grown in our gardens and be- 

 longing to exotic genera, the most frequently to be met with are species of 

 Malope, Hibiscus, or Abutilon. 



I. I.AVATERA. LAVATEEA. 



fnTolucre 3-lobed, often larger than the 5-lobed calyx. Ovary and friiit 

 of Mallow. 



A genus of very few species, from the Mediterranean region, western 

 Asia, southern Africa, and Australia. 



1. Sea Iiavatera. Xiavatera arborea, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1841.) 



Stem woody at the base, with thick, hard, annual flowering branches, 

 forming an undershrub 1 to 4 or 5 feet high. Leaves on long stalks, the 

 lower ones broadly orbicular, palmately divided into 5 to 9 broad, short, 

 crenate lobes, and softly downy on both sides, rarely nearly glabrous. 

 Flowers numerous, of the size of those of the common Mallow, of a pale 

 purple-red, on short pedicels, collected into clusters, forming a long terminal 

 raceme or narrow panicle. Involucre divided to below the middle into 3 

 broad leaf-hke lobes. 



On maritime rocks, in south-western Europe, from the GuK of Genoa, 

 round Spain and France, to the British Isles, where it is very local, chiefly on 

 the south and west coasts of England and Ireland, and on the Bass rock 

 in the Frith of Forth. Fl. summer. 



The tree Lavatera {L. Olbia), a south European species, often cultivated 

 in our gardens, is said to have appeared along the sides of a new embank- 

 ment in Epping Forest, and may occasionally sow itself in other parts of 

 England. 



II. MAI.Z.O'W. MALVA. 



Involucre of 3 small distinct bracts, inserted on the lower part of the 

 calyx. Calyx divided to near the middle into 5 broad lobes. Styles 10 or 

 more. Carpels as many, arranged in a ring round a thickish axis, and sepa- 

 rating from it when ripe, each one containing a single seed. 



A rather numerous genus, vridely dispersed over Europe, northern and 

 central Asia, North America, and South Africa. 



Stems decumbent or prostrate. Petals not above twice as long as the 



calyx . 1. Dwarfli, 



Stem erect or ascending. Petals 3 or 4 times the length of the calyx. 

 Leaves with short, broad lobes, not reaching to the middle. Flowers 



in axillary clusters 2. Common M. 



Leaves deeply cut into narrow lobes. Flowers crowded at the sum- 

 mits of the branches 3. MusTcM. 



The tall tree Mallow {M. mauritiana) , from the Mediterranean, and the 

 curled Mallow {M. crispa), from central Asia, are often to be met with in 

 cottage gardens. Several Cape species are also in cultivation. 



1. Dwarf Mallow. Malva i-otundifolia, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1092.) 



A procumbent annual, with a hard, sometimes woody -looking base, the 



stems 6 mches to a foot long, tough, and slightly downy. Leaves on long 



stalks, orbicular, cordate at the base, with 5 to 7 very short and broad ere- 



