Lavatera. } XVIII, MALVACER. 85 
staminal tube. Stamens numerous, their filaments united in 
a tube round the pistil, the anthers l-celled. Ovaries (in the 
‘British genera) several, arranged in a ring round a common 
axis. Styles or style-branches as many as ovaries. fruit (in 
the British genera) separating into as many carpels as ovaries. 
Seeds one or several in each carpel, attached to the inner angle, 
kidney-shaped, with a curved embryo and little albumen. 
A very extensive and generally natural family, widely distributed, chiefly 
over the warmer climates of the globe. The three British genera, all 
closely allied to each other, only represent one of the two forms of ovary 
and fruit prevailing in the Order. In Hibiscus, Abutilon, and several other 
exotic genera, the carpels are all united intoa single several-celled ovary and 
fruit ; in Pavonia and some others there are twice as many style- branches 
as ovaries, 
Exterior bracts united at the base ie an involucre or ou I Says 
Involucre 3-lobed . ‘ ° . : ° » 1. LAVATERA, 
Involucre of 5 or more divisions — . 3. ALTHAMA, 
Exterior bracts 3, distinct from each other, inserted on the calyx - 2, Matva. 
Among Malvacee, grown in our gardens and belonging to exotic genera, 
the most frequently to be met with are species of Malope, Hibiscus, or 
Abutilon, 
I. LAVATERA. LAVATERA. 
Involucre 3-lobed, often larger than the 5-lobed calyx. Ovary and fruit 
of Malva. 
A genus of very few species, from the Mediterranean region, western 
Asia, southern Africa, and Australia. 
1, &. arborea, Linn. (fig. 194). Sea Lavatera, Tree Mallow.—Stem 
woody at the base, with thick, hard, annual flowering branches, forming an 
under shrub, 1 to 4or 5 feet high. Leaves on long stalks, the lower ones 
broadly orbicular, palmately divided into 5 to 9 broad, short, crenate 
lobes, and softly downy on both sides, rarely nearly glabrous. Flowers 
numerous, of the size of those of Malva sylvestris, of a pale, purple-red, 
on short pedicels, collected into clusters, forming a long terminal raceme 
or narrow panicle. Involucre divided to below the middle into 3 broad leaf- 
like lobes. 
On maritime rocks, in south-western Europe, from Greece, round Italy, 
Spain, and France, to the British Isles, where it is very local, chiefly on the 
south and west coasts of England and Ireland, and in the Friths of Forth 
and Clyde. Fl. summer. 
The tree Lavatera (L. Olbia), asouth European species, often cultivated 
in our gardens, is said to have appeared along the sides of a new embank- 
ment in Epping Forest, and may occasionally sow itself in other parts of 
England, 
Il. MALVA. MALLOW. 
Involucre of 3 small distinct bracts, inserted on the lower part of the 
calyx. Calyx divided to near the middle into 5 broad lobes. Style-branches 
