156 



THE MALLOW FAMILY. 



In marshes, especially in maritime 

 districts, in central and southern Europe, 

 and all across Russian Asia, extending to 

 northern Germany, but not into Scandi- 

 navia. Not uncommon in southern 

 England and some parts of Ireland, but 

 not extending to the north of Lincoln- 

 shire or Arran. Fl. rather late in sum- 



Fig. 196. 



2. Hispid Althaea. Althaea hirsuta, Linn. (Eig. 197.) 

 (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2674, flowers too red.) 



An erect, stiff, but rather slender an- 

 nual, seldom above a foot high, hispid 

 with long spreading hairs. Leaves few, 

 the upper ones divided into 3, 5, or 7 

 narrow segments. Flowers of a pale 

 purplish-blue, on long axillary peduncles. 

 Involucre of 8 to 20 lanceolate lobes, 

 nearly as long as the calyx, the petals 

 about one-half longer. Carpels nume- 

 rous, somewhat angular on their edges. 



In waste and cultivated places, com- 

 mon in southern Europe, up to the Pa- 

 latinate of the Rhine, and occasionally 

 carried to the northward as a weed of 

 cultivation. Probably introduced as 

 such into Kent, where it is said to have 

 fully established itself near Cobham. Fl. 

 Fig. 197. summer. 



