Lcivatera.~\ 
XVI. MALVACEAE. 
75 
oblong, stem dichotomous above, sepals elliptical acuminate 
1 -nerved. E. B. t. 382. 
Pastures, everywhere abundant. Q. 6 — 9. — Stem slender, up- 
right, 2 — 6 inches high. Leaves varying from oblong to obovato- 
lanceolate. Flowers gracefully drooping before expansion, white, 
small. Petals oblong, sometimes acute, often obtuse. 
2. Radiola Gmel. Flax-seed. 
Sep. 4, united up to their middle, and mostly 3-cleft. Pet. 
slam, and styles 4. — Named from radius , a ray ; probably in 
consequence of the radiating nature of the branches. 
1. R. Millegr&na Sm. ( Thyme-leaved F.). E. B. t. 8 93 
Linum Radiola L. 
Moist gravelly and boggy soils, in many places. ©. 7, 8. — A 
very minute plant, 1 — 2 inches high, repeatedly dichotomous. Leaves 
distant, ovate, entire, glabrous, under a high power of the microscope 
appealing dotted. Flowers axillary and terminal, solitary, on short 
peduncles. Cal. segments united, so as to form a monophyllous 
many-toothed calyx. 
Ord. XVI. — M AL V ACEiE Juss. 
Calyx 5-cleft, valvate in aestivation. Corolla of 5 petals , regu- 
lar, twisted in {estivation. Stamens indefinite, momulelphous, 
often united with the petals at their bases. Anthers reniform, 
1 -celled. Ovary 1. Styles single or several combined. Stig- 
mas several. Fruit a capsule, with many cells and valves ; or 
composed of many carpels, which are dehiscent or indehiscent, 
collected into a compact body, or placed in a whorl round the 
base of the style. Albumen none, or fleshy, but not abundant. 
Embryo curved, with twisted and doubled cotyledons. — Herbs, 
or shrubs, or trees. Leaves alternate, with stipules. Flowers 
axillary. — They abound in mucilage, especially the seeds. The 
j stems and roots afford an excellent fibre. Gossypium yields 
the Cotton. 
1. Lavatera. Involucre 3-lobed. 
2. Malva. Involucre 3-leaved. 
3. Altilea. Involucre 6 — 9-cleft. 
1. Lavatera Linn. Tree-Mallow. 
Cal. with a 3-lobed involucre. Carpels numerous, circularly 
arranged, 1 -seeded. — Named in honour of the two Lavaters , 
friends of Tournefort. 
1. L. arborea L. ( Sea T .) ; stem arborescent, leaves with 
about 7 angles downy plaited, peduncles axillary aggregate 
single-flowered shorter than the petioles. E. B. t. 1841. 
