LINACEJ]. 



151 



II. ALLSEED. KADIOLA. 



A single species, separated from Flax on account of the parts of the 

 flower and fruit being in fours instead of in fives, and the sepals united 

 to near the middle in a several-toothed calyx. 



1. Common Allseed. Radiola Millegrana, Sm. (Fig. 191.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 893.) 



A minute, erect annual, with very nu- 

 merous, repeatedly forked branches, 

 forming dense corymbose tufts, 1 to 2 

 inches high, with minute, globular 

 flowers on short pedicels. Leaves small, 

 opposite. Calyx-teeth 8 or 12. Petals 

 4, about the length of the calyx. 



On sandy heaths and waste places, in 

 central and southern Europe to the Cau- 

 casus, extending northward into southern Scandinavia, 

 spread over Britain, and very abundant in some localities, though 

 scarce in other districts. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 191. 



Generally 



XVIII. THE MALLOW FAMILY. MALVACEAE. 



Herbs or soft-wooded shrubs, with alternate, stipulate, pal- 

 mately-veined leaves, and regular flowers. Calyx of 5 divisions, 

 valvate in the bud, and (in the British genera) 3 or more bracts 

 at the base, forming an involucre or so-called outer calyx. Petals 

 5, twisted in the bud, and adhering, by their short claws, to the 

 staminal tube. Stamens numerous, their filaments united in a 

 tube round the pistil, the anthers 1-celled. Ovaries (in the 

 British genera) several, arranged in a ring round a common axis. 

 Styles or style-branches as many as ovaries. Eruit (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, Abu- 

 tilon, and several other exotic genera, the carpels are all united into a 



