MALLOW FAMILY 



5towe»i.— Many, filaments connected with the base of the petals and 

 united into a tube; anthers kidney-shaped, one-celled. 

 Styles. — Many, slender, concealed at first within the corolla tube. 

 Ovaries. — Many, united in a ring, separating at maturity. 



The Hollyhock puts into capitals the essential characters of the 

 Mallow Family, and by carefully studying this flower it is possible 

 to get the structure of the mallows so clearly in mind that whether 

 big or little they are readily understood. 

 The five-pointed velvety calyx is re-en- 

 forced by an involucre which looks like 

 an extra calyx, and together they form 

 the outer green cup in which the larger 

 cup of the corolla sits. In the opening 

 Tubes of Hollyhock Stamens ^uds the great petals are rolled and 

 twisted, then carefully and tightly tucked 

 in at the end. The slender filaments of the stamens unite and 

 form a tube which encloses and, in the opening flower, conceals 

 a cylindrical biinch of thread-like styles. 



By the time the petals have freed themselves of all their tucks 

 and wrinkles the anthers are mature, the pollen is falling, and the 

 nectar flows freely at the base of the staminate column; the feast 

 is ready. The guests arrive duly, for the bees always know 

 when the Hollyhocks are in bloom: After the anthers have ma- 

 tured the long slender styles push out at the top of the stamen 

 tube frequently Extending half an inch or more beyond and curv- 

 ing over. At this time the petals are full of life, the nectar continues 

 to flow, and the bee comes again bringing pollen from some 

 younger flower. After fertilization the petals become flaccid, 

 twist and drop, while the blooming impulse passes on to the 

 buds above. 



The life of a Hollyhock blossom continues from three to five 

 days, and usually from five to nine blossoms in different stages of 

 bloom adorn each well-grown stalk. 



The Hollyhock is the Holy Mallow, brought into western Eu- 

 rope, it is believed, by the Crusaders. The original color was rose, 

 but selection and hybridization have produced a garden race whose 



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