Althcea.) XVIII. MALVACEAE. 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.-4. officinalis. 

 Annual, with long, spreading, stiff hairs 2. A. hirsuta. 



The Hollyhock of our gardens is an Althcea from the Mediterranean 

 region. The Althcea Frutex of our gardeners is improperly so called, for 

 it is a species of Hibiscus ( //. 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). Hispid 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 Ehine, 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. TILIACEJE. THE LIME FAMILY. 

 A rather large tropical Order, but limited in Britain to a 

 single species. It differs from Malvacece 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, valvate in the bud. Petals 5. 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. europeea, Linn. (fig. 201). Common L., Lime-tree. — A handsome, 



