86 



POPULAR GARDEN BOTANY. 



in bud, either distinct or adhering to the tube of the stamens. 

 Filaments united. Leaves more or ]ess divided. — Herbaceous 

 plants, trees, or shrubs ; natives of the tropics principally, but 

 extending to the temperate zone ; abounding in mucilage used 

 in medicine, and yielding fibres for cordage, and also cotton. 



LAVATERA. 



Gen. Char. (Monadelpliia Polyandria.) Calyx double, outer 

 three-leaved; capsules many, one-seeded. 



Named after a physician at Zurich. Of this genus there 

 are many hardy species for the garden, but a few, which are 

 natives of the South of Europe, the coast of Africa, and 

 Teneriffe, may become inhabitants of the greenhouse ; they 

 are acerifolia, plebeia, and triloba, lilac-flowered ; unguicu- 

 lata and Lusitanica, purple ; hispida, rose-colour ; and phce- 

 nicea, crimson. A light soil suits them. 



MALTA. (Mallow.) 



Gen. Char. (MonadelphiaPolyandria.) Calyx double, outer three- 

 leaved ; stamens indefinite in number ; capsules many, one-seeded. 



The name arises from the Greek for soft, in allusion to 

 the soft mucilage of these plants. This beautiful genus is 



