Inglishcombe, &c.: Rev. C. C. Bamncion. — Wariuicksh. King's Cougliton, 
and fields between Cougliton Court and Alcester: Air. Purton. Near Ston- 
leigh, Hatton, and on the Stratford and Kenilworth roads to Warwick, Ac.: 
Air. W. G. Perry. — Wilts ; Common near Great Bedwyn : Air. John Bart- 
lett. — Worcestersh. In a wood on the summit of Abberley Hill, west of 
Abbeiley Church ; andin hedges about Bewdley : Air. W. G. Perry, in Loud. 
Alag. of Nat. Hist. v. iv. p. 451. — Yorksh. Near Richmond, both rose-coloured 
and white: T. E. L. in Loud. Mag. of Nat. Hist. v. iv. p. 71. — SCOTLAND. 
About Dunbaiton Castle: AJr. IloriuRK, in Hook. FI. Scot. Lasswade, near 
Edinburgh: Air. AIaughan, in Grev. FI. Edin. — IRELAND. Near Ennis- 
kerry, and in the County of Kilkenny: Air. J. T. Mackay. 
Perennial. — Flowers in July and August. 
Root whitish, tough, and somewhat woody. Stem 2 or 3 feet 
high, neatly upright, round, leafy, hollow, slightly branched. Root- 
leaves on long stalks, roundish, kidney-shaped, cut into 3 or 5 main 
lobes, each of which is frequently again 3-lobed and cut, soon wither- 
ing away. Stem-leaves divided to the very base into 5 wing-cleft 
(pinnatifid) lobes, the segments of which are all strap-shaped, pointed, 
channelled, sometimes wavy (undulated), and in some degree hairy, 
seldom quite smooth. Flowers large and handsome, rose coloured, 
sometimes white; produced towards the top of the stems and 
branches, on long, axillary, simple stalks. Calyx double, paler 
than the foliage, coarsely hairy, or bristly ; its three outer leaves 
(sepals) strap-spear-shaped. Petals wedge-shaped, slightly cloven, 
jagged. Filaments numerous, united below into a whitish, hairy, 
cylindrical tube (monadelphous), separate at the top, and bending 
back. Anthers kidney-shaped, changing from flesh-coloured to 
purple, and then to bluish. Capsules numerous. — Whole plant 
clothed, more or less, with spreading, simple, not starry hairs, un- 
accompanied by any short dense woolly pubescence. I n hot weather, 
or when drawn lightly through the hand, it generally, though not 
always, yields a faint musky odour. The present is less mucilagin- 
ous than the other British species, and is seldom used in medicine ; 
but the beauty of its blossoms entitle it to a place in the flower 
garden, it has, by some Botanists, been confounded with the 
Vervain Mallow, Malva Alcea of Linnreus ; but it may be dis- 
tinguished from that species by the hairs on the plant being simple, 
the root-leaves kidney-shaped, and the 3 outer leaves of the calyx 
being spear-shaped. In M. Alcea the hairs on the plant are starry, 
the root-leaves angular, and the 3 outer leaves of the calyx egg- 
shaped. 
The white flowered variety of M. Moschata, which is sometimes 
cultivated in gardens, has been observed by Mr. Dillwyn, in fields 
near Eyethorn, in Kent ; and by Mr. John Bartlett, by the road- 
side near Bedwin, Wilts. 
All the species of this genus, as well as of the genera Althaea and 
Lavatera, are mucilaginous and emollient, and are said to be totally 
destitute of all unwholesome qualities. The fibres of the Mallows 
are particularly beautiful ; in some of the species they are finer than 
camel’s hair, arid are easily procured by maceration. “ The farina 
is a pretty microscopic object, appearing toothed like the wheel of 
a watch.” Linn. — “ It is globular, and covered with prickles, 
which give it the toothed appearance.” Withering. 
In the Language of Flowers the mallow is used as symbolical of a 
sweet and mild disposition. 
