MALVACEAE. 



161 



principles are instinctively used by almost all nations, and especially by those 

 who feed principally on vegetable products. 



Order 25.— MALVACEAE.— Jussieu. 



Sepals 5 (seldom 3-4), united at base, often with an exterior calyx or involucrum ; aesti- 

 vation valvate. Petals as many as sepals, hypogynous, aestivation valvate. Stamens 

 hypogynous, as many or commonly a multiple of the petals, monadelphous. Anthers 

 reniform, 1-celled, dehiscing transversely. Ovary of many carpels, round a common 

 axis, distinct or coherent. Styles as many as carpels, united or distinct. Stigmas as 

 many or twice as many as styles. Fruit capsular, rarely baccate. Carpels 1 or many- 

 seeded, sometimes united or distinct, the dehiscence septicidal or loculicidal. Seeds ex- 

 albuminous. Embryo curved. Cotyledons foliaceous, twisted. 



The large order of Malvaceae is composed of trees, shrubs, and herbs, with 

 alternate, stipulate leaves, which are in general palmately veined and clothed 

 with a stellate pubescence. They occur in many parts of the world, the 

 shrubby and arboreous species being mostly confined to warm regions. 

 Their general character is that of abounding in mucilage, and being destitute 

 of any unwholesome qualities, or of marked medicinal powers, though seve- 

 ral of them have been recognised as officinal among the class of demulcents. 



Althaea. — Linn. 



Calyx surrounded with a 6-9 cleft involucel or outer calyx. Capsules numerous, in- 

 dehiscent, 1 -seeded, arranged in a ring round the axis. 



A. officinalis, Linn. — Leaves with a soft tomentum on both sides, cordate or ovate, 

 toothed, entire or 3-lobed. Peduncles many-flowered, shorter than the leaves. 



Linn., Sp. PL 966 ; Woodville, i. 53 ; Stokes, Med. Bot., iii. 530 ; Stephen- 

 son & Churchill, i. 51 ; Torrey & Gray, Fl., i. 229 ; Lindley, Flor. Med., 143. 

 Common Name. — Marsh-mallow. 

 Foreign Names. — Guimauve, Fr. ; Altea, It. ; Eibisch, Ger. 



Description. — The root is spindle-shaped and 

 somewhat woody. The stems are annual, round, 

 leafy, erect, somewhat branching towards the 

 top, and downy. The leaves are of a hoary 

 green colour, tomentose on both sides, alter- 

 nate, ovate or cordate, plaited, more or less di- 

 vided into lobes, and are supported on long 

 petioles. The flowers are of ..a uniform pur- 

 plish-rose colour, and grow in short, dense, 

 axillary clusters. The calyx is double, the 

 outer one 6-9 cleft, whilst the inner one is di- 

 vided into five segments. The petals are five, 

 ob-cordate, unguiculate. The stamens are nu- 

 merous, separate above, and bear reniform an- 

 thers. The ovary is orbicular, surmounted by 

 a cylindrical style, divided into many subulate 

 stigmas. The capsules, which are often twenty 

 in number, are compressed and ranged in a 

 circle, round a columnar axis ; each has two 

 valves, and contains a single, reniform, smooth, 

 brown seed. 



This plant is indigenous to many parts 

 of Europe, and has been naturalized in 

 some places in this country. It is gene- 

 rally found in wet situations, especially 

 near the sea. In Europe it is also cul- 



11 



Fig. 90. 



A. officinalis. 



1. Styles. 2. Stamens. 3. Outer calyx. 



4. Inner calyx. 



