MALVACEAE. 



153 



II. MALLOW. MALTA. 



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 10 or more, subulate. Carpels as many, arranged in a ring 

 round a thickish axis, and separating from it when ripe, each one con- 

 taining a single seed. 



The genus, as now limited, is dispersed over Europe and northern 

 and central Asia. 



Stems decumbent or prostrate. Petals not above twice as long 



as the calyx 1. Dwarf M. 



Stem erect or ascending. Petals 8 or 4 times the length of 

 the calyx. 

 Leaves with short, broad lobes, not reaching to the middle. 



Flowers in axillary clusters 2. Common M. 



Leaves deeply cut into narrow lobes. Flowers crowded at 



the summit of the branches 3. Music M. 



The tall tree Mallow (31. mauritiana), from the Mediterranean, and 

 the curled Mallow (M. crispa), from central Asia, are often to be met 

 with in cottage gardens. Several Cape species are also in cultivation. 



1. Dwarf Mallow. Malva rotundifolia, Linn. (Fig. 193.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1092.) 



A procumbent annual, with a hard, 

 sometimes woody-looking base, the stems 



6 inches to a 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 \ to 1 inch long. Petals 4 

 to 5 lines long. Carpels usually 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 in waste places, through- 

 out Europe and western Asia, except the 

 extreme north. Common in England, 

 Ireland, and southern Scotland, less so 

 further north. Fl. spring to autumn. 



VOL. I. 



Fig. 193. 



