76 MALVACE^. 



reniform, acute at the base. Albumen little or none. Em- 

 bryo incnrved: cotyledons foliaceous, cordate, plicate in 

 the middle and chrysaloid-infolded : radicle inferior. 



Shrubs, or rarely herbaceous plants, with alternate and 

 petioled stipulate leaves, and usually solitary flowers on ax- 

 illary peduncles. Corolla yellow, white, rose-color, or red. 



Etymology. Dedicated to Joseph Pavon, a Spanish botanist who ac- 

 companied Dombey and Ruiz to South America, and became one of the 

 authors of the Flora Peruviana. 



Geographical Distribution. A genus of a considerable number of 

 species, mostly with handsome flowers, nearly restricted to tropical Ameri- 

 ca and India. Two Mexican species extend into Texas ; and another, the 

 Malva Le Contei of Buckley (in Sill. Jour. 45, p. 176), resembling: the 

 Brazilian P. hastata, Cav., was found by Major Le Conte in Georgia. 



Note. Pavonia, as left by Adr. Jussieu, who has best characterized it, 

 exhibits a series of forms which too closely connect it with Urena on the one 

 hand, and with Malvaviscus on the other. The typical state of the genus is 

 well represented by our figure. The Pavonice Urenoidea of Jussieu (§ Ty- 

 phalea, DC.) have the cocci tipped with three retrorsely barbed awns; 

 while Urena has them hispid or echinate all over the back with glochidate 

 bristles, has fewer anthers usually on very short filaments, and a five-cleft 

 involuccl. But P. Le Contei, Torr. 4" Gray, ined., with naked carpels 

 has also (judging from flowers which are not in good condition) very 

 few and subsessile anthers, and the five leaflets of the involucel are a little 

 united. P. Drummondii, Torr. c|- Gray, FL, on the other hand, having 

 convolutely connivent (scarlet) petals, and a filiform exserted and soon spi- 

 rally twisted column, to which may be added a fruit which is at first fleshy, 

 although separable into five cocci, belongs to the P. Malvariscoidea: of Jussieu 

 (Malvaviscus? § Anotea, DC-, but the petals are auriculate). This group 

 should probably be restored to Malvaviscus, or form a distinct genus. 



PLATE 130. Pavonia Wrightii, n. s-p. ; — a branch in flower and fruit, 

 of the natural size, from a plant raised in the Botanic Garden from 

 seeds sent from Texas by Mr. Charles Wright. 



1. Diagram of the aestivation, position, &c. of the parts of the flower. 



2. Vertical section of the flower, magnified. 



3. The five ovaries, with the base of the compound style, magnified. 



4. Fruit, with the calyx and involucel, enlarged. 



5. A separate carpel, seen laterally, more magnified. 



0. Vertical section of the same, and of the contained seed and embryo. 

 7. Magnified embryo; and 8. the same with the cotyledons spread out. 



