86 THE MALLOW FAMILY. 
curled mallow (M. crispa) from central Asia, are often to be met with in 
cottage gardens. Several Cape species are also in cultivation. 
1. M. rotundifolia, Linn. (fig. 196). Dwarf M.—A procumbentannual, | 
with a hard, sometimes woody-looking base, the stem 6 inches toa . 
foot long, tough, and slightly downy. Leaves on long stalks, orbicular, 
cordate at the base, with 5 to 7 very short and broad crenate lobes. 
Flowers clustered in the axils of the leaves, small, and of a pale bluish 
colour, on pedicels 4 to 1 inch long. Petals 4 to 5 lines long. Carpels 
about 15, downy, and rounded on the back, so as to form together a 
disk-shaped fruit, slightly furrowed on the margin between each two 
carpels. 
On roadsides and in waste places, throughout Europe and western 
Asia, except the extreme north. Common in England, rarer in Ireland 
and southern Scotland, still more so further north, Fl. spring to 
autumn, } 
M. parviflora, Linn. (M. pusilla, With., borealis, Wallm.), from southern 
Europe and extending north into Scandinavia ; has been introduced 
with ballast. It has the small flowers of M. rotundifolia, but is chiefly 
distinguished by the carpels not rounded, but flat on the back, with 
angular edges, as in the M. sylvestris. M. verticillata, Linn., from 
southern Europe and central Asia, with the flowers and fruit of ©. 
parviflora, but erect stems, and the flowers in close clusters, has appeared 
occasionally in cornfields. 
2. M. sylvestris, Linn. (fig. 197). Common M.—A biennial, with 
several erect or ascending stems, 1 to 2 or even 3 feet high, more or 
less clothed with spreading hairs, especially in the upper part. Leaves 
on long stalks, orbicular, slightly cordate at the base, with 5 or 7 lobes, 
broad and short, but always deeper than in M. rotundifolia, and the 
middle one often longer than the others. Flowers in axillary clusters, 
usually of a reddish-purple; the petals about 9 or 10 lines long. 
Carpels usually 10, flat on the back, with angular edges, so that the 
fruit has rather projecting ribs than furrows between the carpels. 
In waste places, on roadsides, &c. Common in Europe, except at 
high northern latitudes, and extending all across Russian Asia. 
Abundant in England and Ireland, decreasing to the northward, and 
probably not indigenous north of the Grampians. Fl. summer. 
3. M. moschata, Linn. (fig. 198). Musk M.—A perennial, with several 
erect, simple or slightly branched stems, about 18 inches high, covered 
with long, spreading hairs. Radical leaves orbicular, with short, broad 
lobes, but those of the stem deeply divided into linear or wedge-shaped 
segments, which are again pinnatifid or 3-lobed. Flowers large, rose- 
coloured, or rarely white, crowded at the summits of the stem and 
branches. Carpels rounded on the back, and very hairy. 
On hedge-banks, roadsides, and in gravelly pastures, in western, 
central, and southern Europe, extending northwards to South Sweden, 
and eastwards to Dalmatia. Not uncommon in England, Ireland, and 
southern Scotland. Fl. summer. 
III, ALTHAAA. ALTHAA. 
Involucre of more than 5 bracts, more or less united together at the 
base. Calyx 5-lobed. Ovary and fruit of Malva. - 
