ALTLL/E A M AESH-M ALLO W. 



105 



a column and united at their base with the claws of the petals ; anthers 

 reniform, opening along the top. Ovary compound, formed by the union 

 of several carpels around a common axis ; styles as many as the carpels, 

 distinct or united. Fruit a many-valvecl and usually many-seeded capsule. 

 A large order of mostly tropical and sub-tropical plants, many of which 

 are cultivated for ornamental or economic purposes. In general they are 

 mucilaginous and have no active or deleterious properties. There are, 

 however, some exceptions. The species indigenous to North America 

 have not been investigated to any considerable extent, but from what is 

 known of the order as a whole, there is little reason for believing that such 

 investigation would yield very important results. 



ALTHAEA. —Marsh-Mallow. 



Althaea officinalis Linne. — Marsh-Mallow. 



Description. — Calyx : sepals united at the base, the free segments nar- 

 rowly triangular, acute ; involucre of 7 to 10, erect, subulate, triangular 

 segments half as long as the calyx ; 

 both calyx and involucre densely 

 pubescent, persistent. Corolla : 

 petals obcordate, wedge-shaped, 

 coherent at their bases, pale rose- 

 color, twisted in the bud. Sta- 

 mens as in the character of the 

 order. Ovary roundish, flattened, 

 many-celled, each cell containing 

 a single ovule ; styles numerous, 

 coherent at the base, free above, 

 stigmatic on the inner side. Fruit 

 flattened-spherical, composed of 

 numerous dry, round, flattened, 

 indehiscent carpels attached to, 

 and radiating from a central axis, 

 separating from each other at ma- 

 turity. 



An herbaceous perennial, with 

 a large, long, fleshy, tapering root, 

 and numerous erect, stiff stems, 

 2 to 4 feet high. Leaves on long 

 petioles, the lower roundish-ovate, 

 the upper triangular-oval or some- 

 what 3- to 5-lobed, irregularly cut, 

 acutely serrate, finely pubescent ; stipules narrowly triangular, caducous. 

 Flowers 1 to 2 inches wide, in axillary clusters of 2 to 4 each, and termi- 

 nal, leafy panicles, appearing in August and September. 



Fig. 113.— Althcca officinalis. 



