112 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
CHAPTER XI. 
MALVACE^. 
Cbaractgr of the Order. — Sepals generally five, rarely three or 
four. Petals five, twisted in aestivation. Stamens numerous, hypogy- 
nouSj and combined with the claws of the petals into a column, which 
girds the style and ovaria. Anthers one-celled. Carpels numerous, 
disposed in a whorl round the axis, capsular or baccate. (G. Don.) 
GENUS I. 
MALVA, Lin. THE MALLOW. 
Lin. Sysl. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx girded by a three-leaved involucrum, 1 pels capsular, one-seeded, verticUlate, disposed in an orbicular bead, 
rarely by a five or six-leaved one ; leaflets oblong or setaceous. Car- ) (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — Most of the perennial Mallows are tender or shrubby ; but some of the herbaceous species, 
which were formerly thought half-hardy, are now found to succeed well in the open air. The shrubby kinds are 
still kept in the greenhouse. The words Mallow and Malva both signify mucilaginous. All the plants belonging 
to this genus, and indeed to the order, are easily recognised by their stamens growing together and surrounding 
the styles, so as to form a column in the centre of the flower. 
1.— MALVA MUNROANA, Dougl. MR. MUNRO'S MALVA. 
Enora TINGS.— Bot. Reg, t. 1306; Bot. Mag. t. 3537; and omfig. 
2 in Plato 28. 
Specific Character. — Plant clothed with Tfhite tomentum. Steins 
ascending. Leaves roundish, cordate, somewhat five-h)bed, crenate. 
Involucel setaceous. Peduncles axillary and terminal, panicles 3 — 5 
flowered. 
Description, &c. — This very handsome species was discovered by Douglas, on the plains near the Columbia, 
in July 1826, and it was named by him in compliment to Mr. Munro, the superintendent of the Horticultural 
Society's Gardens at Chiswick. It should be grown in sandy or gravelly soil, when it will flower abundantly 
from May to October. In rich soil it produces more leaves than flowers, and the leaves themselves lose that fine 
silky down that ought to cover them. It may be propagated by seeds or cuttings ; or its ascending shoots may 
be allowed to take root at the base, in which case it will soon form a large bush. It is quite hardy ; and during 
the summer of 1842 I saw it in Mr. Hopgood's garden, covered with flowers every day, and forming one of the 
most ornamental plants in the open border. 
2.— MALVA PURPURATA, Lin. THE PURPLE MALLOW. 
EHGJiiTrsGS Bot. Reg. t. 1362 ; Bot. Mag. t. 3814. I Specific Character. — Pubescent, ascending. Lower leaves five- 
I cleft ; upper ones three-cleft. Flowers solitary, on long peduncles. 
Description, &c. — This species is represented in the Botanical Register with pink flowers, and in the 
Botanical Magazine with purple flowers ; in the latter work it appears very ornamental, but I have never 
seen it growing. It is a native of the Cliilian Andes, where it was found by Mr. M'Eae, in November 1825. 
It is quite hardy in this country, " increasing," Dr. Lindley tells us, " very little by the root, but producing 
seeds in dry seasons. It flowers in June, and continues in beauty till the frosts of autumn nip it. It requires 
no particular attention ; thrives in any common garden soil." 
