26 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
i 
figure than thofe at the root, and of the fame 
pale colour. 
The Howcrs have fhort footftalks, and grow 
all up the ftalks from the middle upwards : they 
are very large, and naturally of a pale red colour, 
confining of five fcgments, joined at the bafe, as 
in the common mallow. 
The feeds follow in large, round cluflcrs alto 
as in the nudlo'W. 
It is a native of Spain, and has thence been 
brought into our gardens, where culture has 
changed the colour and form of the flowers, 
rendering them double, and othcrwife very va- 
rious. 
C. Bauhiiic calls it Malva rofea folio fuiroltmdo. 
J. Bauhine, Maha rofea five horunfn. 
3. Fig-leaved Hollyhock. 
Maha rofea foliis digitatis. 
white, I 
.nd bufhy, 
The root is long, thick 
with a multitude of fibres. 
The leaves rifing from it ftand oirlong, green, 
hairy, tender, footftalks : they are very large, of 
a pale green, and deeply divided into five, feven, 
or more parts. Their whole figure is oblong, 
but approaching to round, and the fcgments are 
cut in very deep. 
The ftalk riles in the midft of thefe, and is 
round, firm, upright, thick, and branched. Its 
leaves refcmble thofe from the root, but they arc 
more deeply divided, commonly down to the 
middle rib, or very near it. 
The flowers grow on fliort footftalks on the 
upper part of the ftalks and branches. They are 
very large, and ufually of a pale yellow : but 
in the colour there is the fame variations as in the 
other ; the art of the gardener rendering it deeper 
and paler, and making the Rower fingle or 
doub'e. 
The feeds ftand in round, flatted clufters, and 
are large and comprefled. 
It is a native of Spain and other warm parts of 
Europe, and flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Maha rofea folio finis. 
Various-leaved Mallow. 
Maha fclius rotundus ct angulalis. 
The root is fmall, long, and white, and has s 
great many fine fibres. 
The leaves rife from it in a fmall tuft, and are 
of a roundifli figure, a little dented at the ftalk; 
and come to a fmall point at the -end. They 
ftand on long, tender, hairy footftalks, and are 
of a pale green above, and white underneath, 
and ferrated round the edges. 
The ftalk rifcs in the midft of this tuft, and is 
ftendcr, weak, hairy, of a pale green, and a foot 
and half high, with numerous branches. 
The leaves ftanding on it are oblong, broad at 
the bafe, (harp pointed, and often divided into 
three parts. 
The flowers are large, and of a deep purple ; 
and they ftand on the tops of the branches. 
The feed comes after in round, flat heads. 
It is a native of Spain, and flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Malva folio vario. J. Bau- 
hine, Maha trinieflris flore cum mguibmfurfureis. 
The common mallow is cooling and diuretick : 
it partakes of the virtue of the marfb mallow, to be 
next defcribed, but in an inferior degrees and 
the feveral other fpecies here defcribed poflefs the' 
fame qualities, but they are of lefs value. 
It is foftening in cataplafms, and is a good 
ingredient in clyfters. The frefti root ufed in a 
ftrong decoftion is excellent in ftranguries, and 
heat of urine, and tlie gravel. The root of the 
little white flowered kind makes a pleafanter drink 
for thij purpofe, and has much the fame virtues. 
G E N US' XIX. 
M A R S H M A L L O W. 
A ht H fE A. 
THE fiowcr is compofed of five fcgments, joined at the bafe, and ftands in a double cup. The 
feeds follow in a round, flatted clufter. The leaves are oblong, white, and foft to the touch. 
This is one of the momdelfhia folyandria of Linnaus, as the former and fucceeding genus. 
DIVISION I. 
BRITISH SPECIES. 
* Marftrmallow. 
Alth^a vulgaris. 
The roots are long, white, and furnifiied with 
very large fibres. 
The firft leaves are fmall, and of an oval figure ; 
a little notched about the edges : they ftand on 
long footftalks, and are of a pale green, and very 
foft. 
The ftalks rife feveral together in the midft of 
the clufter, and are very ftrong, upright, hard, 
and firm. The leaves that rife from the root 
fade at their appearance, and are foon gone. 
The leaves ftand irregularly on the ftalks, and 
are large, oblong, of a figure approaching to 
triangular; white, and foft Co the touch. 
The flowers are large and white, with the fame 
faint blufli of purplifli. 
The feeds ftand in fmall, round heads. 
It is common about fait water rivers, and 
flowers in June. 
The markets arc fupplied with it from the gar- 
dens about London, where it grows in great 
abundance, and perfeftly well. 
J. Bauhine calls it AUh.ea ftvebifmaha. O- 
thers fimply, Alibxa, or AUbxa vulgaris. 
The 
