110 XXII. MALVAGEiE. [Malvastrum. 



with 3 small, narrow, external bracts. Carpels 8 to 12 or even more, closely 

 packed in a depreseed ring, each one reniform, with 3 minute unequal points on 

 the upper edge, 1 at the inner angle, 2 dorsal. — Malva tricmpidata. Ait.; DC. 

 Prod. i. 430 ; Sida carpinoides, DC. Prod. i. 460. 



Hab.: Frequentln southern parts. 



This species, probably of American origin, is much more widely scattered over the warmer 

 regions of the Old World than the M. spicatnm. 



4. PLAGIANTHUS, Porst. 



(Kef erring to the oblique petals.) 

 (Asterotriehon and Blepharanthemum, KhUsch; Lawrencia, Hook.; Halothamnus, F. v. M.) 

 Braoteoles none or distant from the calyx. Calyx 5-toothed or 5-lobed. 

 Staminal column divided at the top into several filaments. Ovary-cells 2 to 5, 

 rarely 1 or indefinite, 1-ovulate. Style-branches as many as cells, filiform or 

 club-shaped, stigmatic along the inner side, either the whole length or near the 

 top. Fruit -carpels 1, 2, or more, seceding from the axis, indehiscent or irregularly 

 breaking up. Seeds pendulous, with a dorsal raphe. — Shrubs or rarely herbs. 

 Leaves entire or rarely lobed. Flowers usually small and white, more or less 

 completely dioecious, axillary or terminal, usually clustered, rarely solitary or in 

 short panicles. 

 The genus is confined to Australasia. 



Sect. Xiawrencia (Wrenoiala, A. Gray.) — Calyx with 5 prominent anglet. Herbs or tortuous 

 shrubs. Leaves thick or small, entire or toothed at the top, nearly glabrous or scurfy. 

 A decumbent, much-branched herb, glabrous or slightly hoary . ... 1. P. glomeratus. 

 A tortuous, branching shrub, covered with scurfy scales 2. P. microphyllui. 



1. P, glomeratus (flowers clustered), £ewt/i. in Joum. Linn. Soc. vi. 103; 

 Fl. Austr. i. 190. A glabrous or slightly hoary, decumbent and much-branched 

 herb, with ascending branches often above 1ft. high. Leaves cuneate-oblong, 

 toothed at the end, resembling those of P. spi^;atus, but usually narrower and 

 more gradually narrowed into the petiole. Flowers all axillary, usually 3 together 

 and sessile, forming distant clusters along the leafy branches and never collected 

 into a spike, the ends of the branches all barren. Flowers nearly those of 

 P. spicattis, but smaller, and the stamens and styles much shorter. — Lawrencia 

 glonierata, Hook. Ic. PI. t. 417. 



Hab.: Southern parts of the colony. 



2. P. microphyllus (small leaves), F. v. M. Fragm. i. 29 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr, i. 190; Halothamnus micropJ^llus, F. v. M. PI. Vict. i. 159. A 

 dwarf rigid shrub, clothed with scurfy scales, very tortuous and branchy, the 

 smaller branches slender and often spinescent. Leaves from linear to oblong- 

 cuneate, rarely exceeding ^in. and usually much smaller, obtuse or 8 -toothed at 

 the end, more or less tapering at the base. Flowers small, sessile or nearly so, 

 1 to 3 together in the axils, not spicate. Calyx when in flower not above 1^ line 

 long. Carpel usually single, enclosed in the calyx and membranous. 



Hab.; Southern border of .the colony. 



5. SIDA, Linn. 



(A Greek name of a plant.) 



Braoteoles none, or small and distant from the calyx. Calyx 5-toothed or 

 5-lobed. Staminal column divided at the top into several filaments. Ovary-cells 

 5 or more, verticillate, 1-ovulate. Style-branches as many as cells, filiform or 

 slightly clavate, with terminal, capitate or truncate stigmas. Fruit-carpels either 

 obtuse or with connivent points, seceding from the axis, indehiscent or ppening 



