MALOPB 



MALLOW OBDEB 



ALTHiEA 271 



or rarely berry-like, the carpels often united and forming a fruit known as a 

 carcerule (see Glossary, fig. 27). 



MALOPE. — A genus containing only 

 3 species of little -known smooth or hairy 

 ornamental annuals, with entire or 3-cleft 

 leaves. Flowers stalked, violet or rose, 

 with 3 large heart-shaped bracteoles. 

 Calyx 5-lobed, persistent. ^ Stamen-tube 

 divided into numerous filaments. 



Culture amd Propagation. — Malo- 

 pes thrive best in sandy loam, in sunny 

 situations, but are not fastidious. They 

 may be raised from seeds sown in slight 

 heat in March, or in the open bor- 

 der at the end of April. The latter 

 method is better on the whole, as the 

 seedlings do not stand transplanting from 

 seed pots very well. "When sown in the 

 open border they may simply be thinned 

 out 6-9 in. apart. During the summer 

 months they require to be frequently 

 watered as they absorb and exhale mois- 

 ture very freely. They look more effec- 

 tive in masses or groups. 



M. malacoides. — A native of South 

 Europe, about 1 ft. high, with oblong- 

 ovate, orenate or pinnatifid leaves, wedge- 

 or heart-shaped at the base. Flowers in 

 summer, large, rose-pink, tinged with 

 purple. 



Culture dc. as above. 



M. trifida. — A beautiful annual 1-3 ft. 

 high, native of S. Spain. Leaves 8-cleft, 

 toothed, smooth, with pointed lobes. 

 Flowers from July to September, large, 

 solitary, purple, or white as in the 

 variety alba. The variety grandiflnra is 

 a well-known arid more vigorous plant 

 with crimson flowers, of which there are 

 red and white variations. 



.KITAIBELIA.— A genus with only 

 one species here described : — 



K. vitifolia. — A perennial herb 6-8 ft. 

 high, native of E. Europe. Leaves Vine- 

 like, 5-lobed, acute, toothed. Flowers 

 late in summer, stalked in the axils of 

 the upper leaves, large, showy, white or 

 rose. Calyx 5-lobed, with 6-9 united 

 bracts. Stamen-tube divided into nume- 

 rous filaments. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species thrives in any garden soil and is 

 easily increased by dividing the rootstock 

 after flowering. Seeds are produced freely 

 and may be sown as soon as ripe in cold 

 frames or in gentle heat in greenhouses. 

 The seedlings should be pricked out into 



boxes or pans, or into fine sandy soil in 

 cold frames, giving them protection from 

 frost until the following spring, when they 

 may be transferred to the open border 

 The seeds may also be sown either m 

 gentle heat early in spring or in the open 

 ground during April and May. 



PALAVA.' — A small genus oontainicig 

 only 3 species of rather smooth or woolly 

 annual herbs, natives of Chili and Peru, 

 with leaves often lobed, sinuate, or dis- 

 sected. Flowers stalked, axillary, solitary, 

 purple. Calyx 5-cleft. Stamen-tube 

 divided into numerous filaments. 



Culture and Propagation. — Pala- 

 vas thrive, in ordinary soil. Seeds may 

 be sown in a little heat in March, 

 so that the seedlings will be ready for 

 transplanting by the end of May. Or 

 seeds may be sown in the open border in 

 April, afterwards thinning the seedlings 

 out 6-9 in. apart. 



P. fiexuosa. — A pretty slender- 

 stemmed annual about 1 ft. high, with 

 twice pinnatifid, hairy, stalked leaves 2-4 

 in. long. Flowers in summer, light 

 mauve or lilac, paler in the centre, with 

 bright red anthers ; petals red and sepals 

 purple at the base. This species is also 

 known as Pabava dissecta. It seeds 

 freely in the British Islands, and in warm 

 . favourable localities would probably re- 

 produce itself annually from self-sown 

 seeds. 



Culture £c. as above. 



P. rhombifolia. — A somewhat prostrate 

 hairy species with soft rhomboid leaves, 

 about 2 in. long. Flowers in July and 

 August, rose-purple, about 1 in. across, 

 scentless. 



Culture dc. as above. 



ALTHiEA. — This genus contains 

 about a dozen species of more or less well- 

 known tall or dwarf woolly or hairy bien- 

 nials or perennials with lobed leaves, and 

 usually solitary, axillary or racemose 

 flowers variously coloured. Bracteoles 

 of the involucre or outer calyx 6-9-cleft, 

 united at the base. Calyx 5 -cleft. 

 Stamen-tube divided into numerous fila- 

 ments. Carpels in a regular whorl, 1- 

 seeded, indehiscent. 



Culture and Propagation. — Most 

 of the plants thrive in almost aqy garden 



