ii malvaceae 119 



Radiola 



This genus represented by R. millegrana, differs from 

 Linum in having the parts of the flower in fours, and 

 the sepals united to near the middle. It is a minute 

 annual, not native in Britain, but not infrequent as an 

 escape from cultivation. 



MALVACE^ 



Sepals and petals 5. Below the calyx are three or 

 five bracts forming an involucre. The stamens are 

 numerous, and the filaments are united in a tube round 

 the pistil. The flowers are protandrous. 



Lavatera (Tree Mallow) 



Involucre three-lobed. The carpels, 10 or more in 

 number, are arranged in a ring round a common axis ; 

 resembling a flat loaf. When ripe they split off' singly, 

 and are remarkably like small brown or green cater- 

 pillars or centipedes. The effect of this may perhaps 

 be to induce birds to carry them about. 



L. arborea. — Very local. Principally on the south 

 and west coasts and on the Bass Rock. 



Altera (Marsh Mallow) 



Involucre six- to nine-lobed. The Hollyhock belongs 

 to this genus. 



A, officinalis (Marsh Mallow) occurs south of the 

 Clyde in marshes near the sea. 



Malva (Mallow) 



M. sylvestris (Common Mallow, Fig. 63). — Honey is 

 secreted at the bases of the petals. When the flower 



