MALVACEAE. 59 



Plate 121, 122. 



MALVASTRUM, Gray. 



Involucellum nullum vel 1-3-phyllum. Stigmata termi- 

 nalia, capitellata. Ovulum in loculis solitarium, peritropo- 

 adscendens. Fructus 5-20-coccus, carpellis muticis rostra- 

 tisve ab axi secedentibus. Semen reniforme. Embryo 

 arcuatus vel annularis ; radicula centripeto-infera. 



Malvastrum, Gray, PI. Fendl. in Mem. Amer. Acad. (n. sor.) 4. p. 21. 

 Malv^s: et Sid^ Sp., Auct. 



Calyx naked or furnished with an involucel of from one 

 to three subulate and deciduous bractlets, or sometimes with 

 a conspicuous three-leaved persistent involucel, five-cleft, 

 persistent ; the segments valvate in asstivation. Petals 5, 

 hypogynous, usually oblique or obliquely emarginate, convo- 

 lute in asstivation. Stamens indefinite, monadelphous in a 

 simple column, the base of which is united with the claws 

 of the petals, hypogynous: filaments all arising from the 

 summit of the column : anthers reniform, one-celled, open- 

 ing around the whole convex side. Ovaries 5 to 20, united 

 in a circle around a central receptacle : styles as many as 

 the ovaries, united below ; stigmas terminal, capitate. Ovule 

 solitary in each carpel, peritropous-ascending, amphitropous, 

 the micropyle inferior. 



Fruit a ring of coriaceous or crustaceous reniform one- 

 seeded carpels, which at length separate from each other and 

 from the central axis, and open by rupture on the inner edge, 

 or are indehiscent, or sometimes two-valved, pointless or ros- 

 trate, and sometimes bearing two tubercles or short spines on 

 the back. Seed reniform. Embryo curved into a semicircle 

 around a little soft albumen, or incompletely annular : coty- 

 ledons broad and foliaceous, cordate, conduplicate-infolded : 

 radicle centripetal-inferior. 



