MALLOW FAMILY 



93 



decreasing towards the poles. They all agree in containing a 

 large quantitj- of mucilage, and being totally destitute of unwhole- 

 some qualities. In some species, this mucilage, extracted by 

 boiling the plant, especially the root, is employed medicinally in 

 allaying irritation, both external and internal, as, for instance, in 

 the manufacture of guimauve lozenges. The iriner bark of several 

 tropical species is used as a substitute for hemp ; but the less 

 strong, though most valuable of all textile substances, cotton, 

 consists of the long unicellular hairs on the seeds of various species 

 of the genus Gossvf'iu/ii, 

 which belongs to this Order. 

 The Hollyhock [Alflnca 

 ;v'.ct'(7), several species of 

 JUbisci/s, Mdhipi\ and other 

 genera, are favourite orna- 

 mental garden flowers. 



\. Alth.IiA. Epicalyx of 

 6 — 9 connate bracts. 



2. Lavatlra. Ej'icalyx 

 of 3 connate bracts. 



3. M.\L\"A. Epiailyx of 3 

 di.?tinct bracts. 



I. ALTiLtA (Marsh Mal- 

 low). — Hairy herbs, with 

 lobed Uavcs : axillary or 

 racemose jloi^'irs : an (■//- 

 ci7/\'x of 6 — 9 united bracts ; 

 si'/d/s and /vA(/V 5 each ; 

 staniinal tiilv long ; i/ylii 

 many; fnaf dividing into 

 indehiscent i-seeded cocci. 

 (Name from the Greek ait/io, I ci:re, from its ht-aling properties.) 



I, A. officindlis (Common Marsh iMallow). — Hoary with stel- 

 late down; sIliii j— 3 feet high; karcs shortly stalked, thick, 

 sub-orbicular, 3 — 5-lobed; ffozccrs in axillary cymes, r — 2 in. 

 across, blush-iiink. — ^larshes near the sea/ local. The starry 

 down is a beautiful object for the microscope. — Fl. August, 

 September. Perennial. 



2 A. hirsiita (Hispid Marsh Mallow). — A hispid or bristly 

 plant, about a foot high, with liam long-stalked, reniform, 

 3 — T-lobed, and solitary axillary rose-pink flo-.^'as. an inch across, 

 occurs near Cobham, Kent. — Fl. June, July. Annual or 

 biennial. 



.^LTH F.\ OFFICINALIS 



(Cotnincn ^Jarsh J/,!,'/i':.'). 



