3IALL0W FAMILY. 



G3 



nsed formerly, as a pot-lierb ; but is now generally superseded by better 

 ones. — and is, indeed, only entitled to notice, here, as a troublesome 

 weed in gardens. P. grandiflora, P. Gillesii and others, having terete 

 leaves, hairy axils and showy flowers are now common in gardens ; they 

 are known in some places as " Wax Pinks they become quite perma- 

 nently established where they are once introduced and will doubtless 

 become weeds wherever they escape from cultivation. 



OederX. MALTA' CE.'E. (Mallow Family.) 



Herts or shrubs, with alternate, palmatelj'-veined leaves furnished -svith stipules. Floivers 

 regular, mostly large, often with an involucel forming a double calyx. Calyx mostly of 



5 sepals, more or less united at base. Petals as many as the sepals, convolute in the 

 bud. Stamens monadelphous, often indefinite ; anthers reniform, 1-celled. Styles as many 

 as the carpels, distinct or united below. Fruit capsular, or the carpels separate or separa- 

 ble. Seefh with little albumen ; cotyledons foliaceous, plicate and twisted. Mucilaginous 

 plants with a tough bark. 



An Order comprising about 30 genera, and numerous sp&cies — some of them showy and 

 handsome. They are generally remarkable for their mucilaginous and demulcent prop- 

 erties : but the Cotton plant is preeminently interesting to the AmericaK people — ^both as 

 yielding the great staple of the exports from the Southern States, and of the mamifacturei 

 of the Xorthern States. There are, however, but few other plants of Agricultural im- 

 portance belonging to the Order. 



1 1. Anthers at the top of the column of united filaments. Cells of the 

 iruit united in a ring around a central axis from which they fall 

 away when ripe. 



Involucel present. Carpels 1-seedod. 



Involucel 6-9-parted. Plant soft downy. 

 Involucel 3-leaved. 

 Involucel none. Carpels 1- several-seeded. 

 Seeds one in each cell. 

 Seeds 2-9 in each cell. 



6 2. Anthers along the sides of the upper part of the column of united 

 nlaments. Pod of 3-5 cells, splitting into as many valves. 



Involucel of many thread-shaped leaves. 



Calyx splitting down one side when the flower opens. Pod 

 long. 



Calyx not splitting down one side. Pod short. Seeds naked. 

 Involucel of 3 heart-shaped, toothed leaves. Seeds bearing 

 long wool. 



1. AiTa^. 



2. iLiLVA. 



SiDA. 



ABunLOX. 



5. ABEisioscnrjs. 



6. Hibiscus. 



7. GossYPiuir 



1. AIjTH>5]'A, L. Marsh-mallow. 



[Greekj AUho, to heal ; from its reputed virtues.] 



Involucel 6-9 cleft. Fruit depressed, consisting of numerous 1-seeded, 

 round-kidney shaped, indehiscent carpels, arranged in a ring around a 

 central axis. 



1. A. officinalis, L. Leaves ovate or somewhat heart-shaped, often 3-lobed, 

 velvety ; peduncles axillary, many-flowered. 



Officinal Althaea. Marsh-mallow. 



Perennial. Root fusiform. Stem 2-4: feet high, erect. Leaves 2-4 inches Ions with 

 petioles about half their length. Floivers pale rose color, sub-paniculate. 

 Cultivated, and spontaneous in salt marshes. July -September. 



Obs. The Marsh-mallow is a native of Europe, and is sometime^) 



