330 r/iiiifs I'li/d their W'livs i'ji So/i/Ii ^-Ifrica 



The stamens are always joined to form a tube (monadel[)hous), 

 and attached to the petals at the base, so that the corolla 

 is slightly gamopetalous. The stamens branch at the top, 

 so that a great many haU^ anthers are present (anthers with but 

 one cell). The fruit is a capsule or a schizocarp with several 

 carpels; placentation axile. The fl(j\ver-stalk is jointed below 

 the flower. Seeds often hairy. The cotton plant {Gussypium) 

 belongs to this order. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with alternate, stipulate leaves. 

 Flowers solitary or in cincinni. 



A. Fruit of separate carpels. Stamens bearing antiiers at or to the 

 \ery top. 

 B. Stif^^mas as man)- as the carpels. 

 C. Styles thread-like. 



Althea. — Epicalyx 6-g-leaved 

 Malva. — Epicalyx 3-leaved. 

 CC. Stigmas cushion-like. 



D. Epicalyx present, 3-parted, 



Malvastrum. — Carpels with i o\'ule. 

 Sphaeralcea. — Carpels with ■-!-3 ovules. 

 DD. lipicalyx \\'anting. 



Sida. — Carpels i-seeded. 

 Abutilon. — Carpels 3-12-seeded. 

 BB. Stigmas t^\■ice as many as the carpels. 

 Pavonia. — Epicalyx of 5-20 lea\'es. 

 AA. Fruit a capsule. Stamen tube 5-toothed at the apex.^ Stigmas 

 cushion-shaped (capitate). 



Hibiscus. — 0\-ar\' 5-celled. l^picah'x of 5-many bracts. 



Malvastrum. — A shrub or herb with purple flowers (rose- 

 rcd or red and white), borne on short stalks in the axiles of the 

 leaves, singly or in racemes. The leaves and stems are often 

 sticky, softly downy, or covered with bristles. 



Sida. — A low-growing shrubby plant with small white or 

 yellow flowers (rarely purple). The flowers open for a short 

 time about noon. The stigmas ripen at the same tiirie as the 

 anthers. (The stigmas reach out among the anthers and help 

 themseK-es to pollen.) Flies sometimes visit the flowers. 



Abutilon. — Shrubs or herbs, erect or prostrate, with soft 



' The teeth are regarded by some as the remnant of the outer whorl 

 oi stamens. 



