POPULAR FLORA. 
131 
Calyx 2-leaved, free from the ovary, which makes a few-seeded pod, splitting into 3 valves. 
Stamens 5, one before each petal. Leaves 2 and opposite in our species, on a 
stem which comes from a small tuber. Flowers rose-color, in a raceme, open- 
ing for several days. ( Claytonia) Spring-Beauty. 
17. MALLOW FAMILY. Order MALVACEiE. 
Distinguished by the numerous monadelphous stamens (i. e. united by their filaments into 
a tube or column ), with kidney-shaped one-celled anthers, and the five sepals or lobes of the 
calyx applied edge to edge without overlapping (i. e. valvate ) in the bud, and persistent. 
Leaves almost always palmately-veined, alternate, with stipules. Petals united at the bot- 
tom with the tube of stamens. There is often a sort of outer calyx, below the true one, 
called an involucel. All innocent plants, full of mucilage (it is extracted from the root of 
Marsh-Mallow), and with a very tough fibrous inner bark. Flowers often handsome. 
Anthers all at the top of the column of united filaments (Fig. 317). 
Involucel or outer calyx present. Cells of the fruit many in a ring, separating whole 
when ripe, one-seeded. 
Involucel 9-parted. Separated little pods marginless. Plant soft-downy : root pe- 
rennial, (Althcea) Marsh-Mallow; 1 
Involucel about 6 parted. Separated pods with membranaceous margins. Plants 
tall, romrhish: root biennial. Flowers large, ( A Ithtea, § A 'Icea) * Hollyhock. 
Involucel 3 -6-cleft. A flat plate covering the circle of pods, ( Lavatera ) * Lavatera. 
Involucel 3-leaved. Circle of pods naked, around a narrow axis, ( Malva ) Mallow. 
