POLYPETAL^— MALVACE^ 133 



Vegetative characters. — Herbs with hairs. Leaves alternate, 

 stipulate, simple, palmately-veined, lobed, margins scalloped. 

 The leaves are folded in the bud. Inflorescence, axillary tufts 



Fig. 161. — Vertical section of flower ai Malva sylvestris. 

 Fig. 162. — Upper part of stamen of ditto, showing dehiscence of anther. 

 Fig. 163. — Portion of flower of ditto, showing calyx, epicalyx (3c), and part of 

 style : the stamens and petals are removed. 



too complicated for description here. Three bracts close 

 beneath the calyx form an involucre, which is known as the 

 epicalyx (be). Flower (fig. i6i) actinomorphic $ , cyclic, 

 showy. Sepals {sp) five, combined, valvate in the bud. 

 Nectaries five pits on the bases of the five sepals, protected 

 by hairs on the margins of the bases of the petals. Petals 

 five, contorted in the bud. The petals are united to one 

 another and to the stamens by their bases. Stamens numer- 

 ous, united by their filaments to form a tube {cot), epi- 

 petalous. The numerous stamens are in reality produced 

 by a branching of five stamens placed opposite the five petals. 

 Each anther has only two pollen-sacs, and represents only half 

 a complete anther; it is kidney-shaped (fig. 162). Carpels 

 (figs. 161, 163) several, syncarpous, superior. Ovary {ov) 



