Althea. | AVI. MALVACEA, 87 
A ‘small genus, chiefly from the Mediterranean region and western 
Asia, with one or two South African species. 
Tall perennial, covered with a short, velvety down . : : . 1. A. officinalis. 
Annual, with long, spreading, stiff hairs. ‘ : . 2. A. hirsuta. 
The Hollyhock of our gardens is an ee ye the Mediterranean 
region. The Althwa Frutex of our gardeners is improperly so called, for 
it is a species of Hibiscus (1/. syriacus, Linn. ). 
1. A. officinalis, Linn. (fig. 199). Marsh Mallow.—Stock perennial, 
the flowering stems erect, branched, 2 to 3 feet high, covered, as well 
as the foliage and inflorescence, with a soft, dense, velvety down. 
Leaves stalked, broadly ovate, undivided or 3-lobed, the lower ones often 
cordate at the base, the upper ones narrow. Flowers not large, of a 
pale rose-colour, on short pedicels in the upper axils, or the greater 
number forming almost leafless terminal spikes. Involucre divided into 
several linear segments, much shorter than the 5-lobed calyx. Carpels 
15 to 20, rounded on the back. 
In marshes, especially in maritime districts, in southern Europe, and 
northern Asia, extending to northern Germany, but not into Scandinavia. 
Not uncommon in southern England and some parts of Ireland, but not 
found north of Lincolnshire or Arran. Fl. rather late in summer. 
2. A. hirsuta, Linn. (fig. 200). Hisnid A.—An erect, stiff, but rather 
slender annual, seldom above a foot high, hispid with long, spreading 
hairs. Leaves few, the upper ones divided into 3, 5, or 7 narrow seg- 
ments. Flowers of a pale purplish-blue, on long axillary peduncles. 
Involucre of 8 to 10 lanceolate lobes, nearly as long as the calyx, the 
petals about one-half longer. Carpels numerous, somewhat angular on 
their edges. 
In waste and cultivated places, common in southern Europe, up to the 
Palatinate of the Rhine, and occasionally carried to the northward as 
a weed of cultivation. Introduced as such into Hertfordshire and Kent, 
where it has fully established itself near Cobham. It has also been 
lately found apparently indigenous in North Somersetshire. Fl. summer 
XIX. TILIACEA. THE LIME FAMILY. 
A rather large tropical Order, but limited in Britain to a 
single species. It differs from Malvacee by the petals imbri- 
cated but not twisted in the bud; the stamens free or shortly 
united into several bundles; the anthers 2-celled, and the 
carpels completely consolidated into a several-celled ovary. 
I. TILIA, LIME. 
Trees with alternate leaves, deciduous stipules, and small cymes of 
flowers on an axillary peduncle, to which is attached a long leaf-like bract. 
Sepals 5, valvateinthe bud. Petals5. Stamens numerous, very shortly 
cohering in several clusters. Ovary globular, 5-celled, with 2 ovules in- 
each cell, attached to the inner angle. Style single, with a 5-toothed 
stigma. Fruit, a small globular nut, containing 1 or 2 seeds. 
A genus of very few species, widely distributed over the northern 
temperate zone, where it is the only representative of the family. 
1. T. europea, Linn. (fig. 201). Common Z., Lime-tree.—A handsome, 
