THE MALLOW FAMILY 
55 
leaves shortly stalked and deeply divided to the base into 3-5 segments ; the whole plant very 
hairy. 
Very rare, local. Occurs near Cobham in Kent. June — July. Annual. 
TREE MALLOW. (LAVATERA, LINN.) — Flowers growing in small clusters up the stem 
forming a long terminal cluster. Outer calyx of 3 bracts united at the base. Sepals and petals 5 ; 
stamens numerous, united by their filaments into a long tube ; carpels numerous. Fruit many 
i-seeded little nuts, in a ring, separating when ripe. More or less hairy herbs with more or less 
lobed leaves, 
Sea Tree-Mallow. (Lavatera arborea, Linn.)— The only British species (as just 
described). Flowers many, i| inches across, pale purple-rose, deeper towards the centre, with darker 
veins ; the bracts of the outer calyx large and broad ; the sepals smaller than the bracts ; the 
stem 2-8 feet high, erect, woody, thick ; and the leaves stalked, large, roundish, heart-shaped 
(cordate) at the base, the lower ones 7-lobed and the upper ones 5-lobed, all with scalloped 
(crenate) edges. \Plate 28. 
Not common. Rocky, stony ground near the sea on the south and west coasts. June — 
September. Perennial. 
MALLOW. (MALVA, LINN. ) — Similar to the Marsh and Tree Mallow, differing in having 
an outer calyx of 3 bracts which are not united. 
Musk Mallow. (Malva mosehata, Linn.) — Flowers large, i|-2| inches across, rose- 
pink, rarely white, crowded at the top of the stems and branches. Outer calyx of 3 small strap- 
shaped bracts. Sepals and petals 5, the sepals twice as long as the bracts ; stamens numerous, 
with the filaments united into a tube round the numerous carpels. Fruit a ring of i-seeded little 
nuts. Stems 2-3 feet high, erect, hairy, light green ; the leaves long-stalked, the lower kidney- 
shaped (reniform), 3-cleft towards the base into broad, scalloped (crenate) segments ; the upper 
ones deeply lobed to the base into three segments, which in their turn are deeply lobed to the 
midrib (pinnatifid) into 5-7 narrow segments, all with a slight musky odour when rubbed. 
Common. Hedge banks and borders of fields. July — August. Perennial. 
Common Mallow. (Malva sylvestris, Linn.)— A similar plant, with showy flowers i| 
inches across, lilac with crimson veins ; the root leaves kidney-shaped (reniform), with 5-7 short, 
broad lobes. [ Plate 28. 
Common. Waste ground. June— September. Perennial. 
Dwarf Mallow. (Malva rotundifolia, Linn.)— A smaller prostrate plant, with very pale 
pink flowers f-i inch across, and round, heart-shaped leaves lobed towards the base into 3-7 
shallow, rounded segments. 
Common. Waste places. Perennial. 
