64 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



cultivated ; it has become naturalized along the coast of NeA;Y England 

 and Long Island. The whole plant, especially the root, contains a great 

 deal of mucilage, and is employed by European physicians (or poultices 

 and such purposes as Slippery Elm bark is used with us. Alth^a 

 ROSEA is the common Hollyhock of the gardens, many varieties of which 

 are cultivated for ornament. ^ 



2. MAL'YA, L. IVIallow. 



[Latinized from the Greek, Malaclie, soft ; in allusion to its emollient nature.] 

 Invohicel of 3 oblong or setaceous bracts. Carpels several, dry, inde- 

 hiscent, arranged in a circle round the axis, as in Althaea. 



45 



45 



1. M. rotuxdifo'lia, L. Stem herbaceous, prostrate ; leaves cordate- 

 orbicular, obscurely lobed, crenate-toothed ; pedicels axillary, 1-flowered, 

 declined in fruit. 



Round-leaved Malva. Running Mallows. Low Mallows. 



Fr. Petite Mauve. Germ. Rundblaettrige Malve. Span. Malva de 



hoja redonda. 



JRoot perennial. Stem 1 - 2 or 3 feet long, branching only at base or from the root. Leav^ " 

 1-2 or 3 inches in diameter, obscurely 5-7-lobed ; petioles 2-6 or 8 inches long. Flowers 

 small ; bracts linear, retals twice as long as the calyx, reddish white with purple veins. 



Yards, gardens and lots : introduced. Native of Europe. J'L May -September. Fr. 

 July -October. 



Fig. 43. Common Mallow (Malva rotundifolia), a flower. 44. A leaf. 45. An enlarged 

 flower with the petals removed to display the column of united stamens. 46. A ring of 

 united carpels, forming the fruit and a separate caroel. 



