530 



BOTANY 



The Malvaceae are herbaceous or woody plants, abounding in 

 mucilage, and usually, at least in their early growth, covered with 

 matted woolly hair (Fig. 497). The leaves are palmately nerved and 

 frequently palmately lobed. The funnel or bell- 

 shaped flowers are entomophilous, generally large 

 and beautifully coloured. They are either solitary 

 and axillary, or grouped in terminal inflorescences, 

 and are often provided with an involucre or epi- 

 calyx, formed of three or more bracteoles (Fig. 498). 

 The petals are slightly united at the base. The 

 numerous monothecious stamens are formed as the 

 result of a splitting of the epipetalous whorl, which 

 in this case extends to the anthers, while the epi- 

 sepalous whorl is either entirely suppressed or represented by tooth- 

 like staminodia attached to the top of the staminal tube. The 

 gyncscium is often multicarpellary, and gives rise to a capsule or 

 schizocarp (Fig. 499, c). 



Representative Sue-Families. — (1) Malveae, with schizocarpous fruit, pro- 

 duced from numerous carpels arranged in a whorl ; e.g. Malva, with epicalyx 

 consisting of three free involucral bracteoles ; Lavatera, with epicalyx of three 

 united bracteoles ; Althaea, with epicalyx of six to nine bracteoles united at the 



Fro. 497. — Malvaceae. 

 Floral diagram (Malva). 



Fig. 498.— Flower of Althaea officin- 

 alis, cut through longitudinally. 

 a, Outer, b, inner calyx ; c, petals ; 

 d, andrcecium ; /, pistil ; c, ovule 

 (magnified). (After Berg and 

 Schmidt.) 



Fig. 499. — Malva silvestris. a, Flower; b, 

 flower-bud ; c, fruit (nat. size.) — Officinal. 



base. (2) Hibiseeae, with fruit in the form of a capsule ; e.g. Hibiscus (Rose- 

 Mallow), Gossypium (the Cotton-plant). 



Geographical Distribution. — With the exception of the polar regions, 

 members of the Mallow family are found distributed over the whole earth, 

 although chiefly occurring in the warmer zones. Althaea rosea, the Hollyhock, 

 and some of the bushy species of Hibiscus are favourite ornamental plants. The 

 species of Gossypium, from which cotton is obtained, are mostly shrubs with lobed 



