MALVACE^. 447 



687, 413, p. 238) ; dehiscence loculicidal (fig. 543, p. 304), or septi- 

 cidal. Seeds amphitropal or semi-anatropal ; albumen 0, or in very- 

 small quantity; embryo curved (fig. 690); cotyledons twisted or 

 doubled (fig. 691). — Herbaceous plants, trees or shrubs, with alternate 

 stipulate leaves (fig. 683 s), more or less divided, and often with 



Fig. 686. 



Fig. 685. 



Fig. 691. 



Fig. 687. 



stellate hairs (fig. 86, p. 31). They are dispersed over all parts of 

 the world, with the exception of the Arctic regions. They abound in 

 tropical countries and in the warm parts of the temperate zone. 

 Authors enumerate 40 genera, including about 700 species. The 

 order has been divided into three tribes : — 1. Malvese, calyx with an 

 involucel, carpels 5 or many, whorled, separating from the axis when 

 ripe. 2. Hibiscese, calyx with an involucel; carpels 3-5-10, united 

 into a loculicidal capsule. 3. Sideae, calyx naked ; fruit syncarpous. 

 Examples — Lavatera, Malva, Hibiscus, Sida. 



The plants of the order are all wholesome, and yield mucilage in 

 large quantity. Some furnish materials for cordage, others supply 

 cotton. Malva syhestris, Common Mallow, and Althcea officiiialis, 

 Marsh Mallow, are employed medicinally, as demulcents and emol- 

 lients. The latter is the Guimauve of the French. The fiowers of 

 Althosa rosea, the Hollyhock, are oflicinal in Greece for similar pur- 

 poses ; the plant also yields fibres and a blue dye. The petals of 

 Malva Alcea and Hibiscus Eosa-sinensis possess astringent properties ; 

 the Ohiiiese make use of them to blacken their eyebrows and the 

 leather of their shoes. The flowers of Abutilon esculentwm, and the 



Fig. 685. Vertical section of the flower, i, Caliculus, epioalyx, or involuore ; e, calyx ; 

 p, petals ; t, tulie of monadelplious stamens, forming an arcli atove the ovary, o, and 

 united at the base to the petals ; a, anthers at the summit of the filaments, free ; s, styles 

 free at the summit, united below. Fig. 686. A reniform monotheoal anther, dehiscing 

 transTersely, separated with the upper part of the filament. Fig. 687. Fruit, surrounded 

 by the persistent calyx, c, consisting of whorled carpels united together by the axis, a. 

 Fig. 688. A separate carpel viewed laterally. Fig. 689. Exalbuminous amphitropal seed. 

 Fig. 690. Curved embryo. Fig. 691. Section of the embryo, to show the doubled coty- 

 ledons. 



