MALLOW FAMILY 487 
belongs, and the Rue family (Rutacea), the family of citrous 
fruits, such as Oranges, Lemons, Tangerines, Grapefruit, and 
others. 
Maple Family (Aceraceae). — This family is composed chiefly 
of the Maples, valuable trees for shade, lumber, and yielding a 
sweet sap from which maple syrup and sugar are obtained. 
Closely related to the Maples are the Buckeyes which are also 
important shade trees. 
Mallow Family (Malvaceae). — This family is a notable one 
chiefly because it includes the Cotton plant (Fig. 435). The 
+t 
é Ca oe lg 
Fic. 435. — A Cotton Plant, showing the general character of the plant. 
X about z;. After Orton. 
flowers have five sepals and five petals. The stamens are 
numerous and united, and the pistil is composed of a number 
of carpels united at the base. The sepals are also partly united 
(Fig. 9). 
Cotton surpasses all other plants of the family in value. 
To this family also belongs the Theobroma Cacao, a small tree 
which yields cocoa and chocolate. The Shrubby Althaea and 
Hollyhock are of some importance as ornamental plants, while 
the Indian Mallow (Albutilon Theophrasti), Flower-of-an-hour 
(Hibiscus Trionum), and a few others are more or less trouble- 
some weeds. 
