NAT. ORDER. 
Mahacece, 
ALTH^A OFFICINALIS. MARSH-MALLOW OF SURINAM. 
Class XVI. MoNADELPHiA. Order VIII. Polyandria. 
Gen. Char. Calyx, double ; the exterior, six or nine-cleft. Ca'p-^ 
sules, numerous, one-seeded. 
Spe. Char. Leaves, simple, downy. 
The root is perennial, long, tough, white, and fibrous ; the 
stalk IS upright, firm, wooley, somewhat branched towards the top, 
and rises from three to six feet in height ; the leaves are somewhat 
oval, or heart-shaped, commonly with a lobe on each side, pointed, 
irregularly serrated, covered with a soft down, and stand upon 
long, round footstalks ; the stipulce are two, narrow, and placed at 
the base of each leaf-stalk ; the Jlowers are large, and consist of 
five petals, inversely heart-shaped, indented at the apex, and of a 
pale purple color ; the calyx is double, the exterior consisting of 
nine, and the interior of five narrow, pointed segments ; the sta- 
mens are numerous, united at the base, and terminated by kidney- 
shaped anthers ; the germen is orbicular ; the style is cylindrical, 
and furnished with many long, bristling stigmas ; the seeds are 
kidney-shaped, numerous, placed in a circle, and covered with an 
arillus. It is a native of Surinam ; but is found growing in many 
parts of England, and throughout the United States, near the sea 
shore, or about salt marshes. It flowers in August. 
The Althaea seems to have been favorably known to the an- 
cients, and has continued in general use by practitioners in every 
country where the science of medicine is regularly cultivated. At 
Surinam this plant is called okkerum, and is considered the most 
Vol. ii.— 147. 
