XIV. MALVACEAE 
59 
ascending. Leaves 1-3 in. across, lobes shallow, broad. Flowers 
small, long-stalked. Bracteoles narrowly oblong, acute. Petals 
pale lilac, darker-streaked, 2-3 times as long as the calyx. 
Matiana, Narkunda ; June. — Plains of N. India, ascending to 10,000 ft. — 
W. Asia, Europe (Britain, Dwarf Mallow). 
A weed of cultivation. 
4. Malva parviflora, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 321. Pubescent. 
Stems decumbent, 6-12 in., spreading. Leaves J-2 in. across, 
lobes usually obscure. Flowers small, shortly stalked or sessile. 
Bracteoles linear. Petals pale pink, hardly longer than the calyx. 
Mushobra ; May, June. — Plains of N. India. — W. Asia, W. Africa, Europe. 
2. SIDA. A name adopted by Linnaeus from classical authors. 
— Tropical and subtropical regions. 
Low shrubs, more or less covered with stellate hairs or pubes- 
cence. Stems erect or nearly so. Leaves simple, not lobed. 
Calyx bell-shaped, 5-lobed, lobes triangular, acute. Bracteoles none. 
Petals pale yellow, slightly longer than the calyx. Stamens 
united in a tube separating at the top into short, free, anther- 
bearing filaments. Ovary 5-10-celled, carpels 1-ovuled, arranged 
round a central axis ; styles united for about half their length ; 
stigmas minute, capitate. Fruit enclosed in the persistent calyx ; 
carpels shortly pointed, ultimately separating from the axis, 
1- seeded, opening irregularly. 
Leaves cordate ; stalks 1-2 in. ; lower surface green . . 1. 8, humilis. 
Leaves wedge-shaped at base ; stalks \ in. or less ; lower surface 
grey-pubescent . . . . . . . . . 2. S. obovata. 
1. Sida humilis, Willd . ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 322. Stellately hairy. 
Leaves ovate, about 2J x 1\ in., cordate, long-pointed, toothed; 
lower surface green, bearing a few scattered, stellate hairs ; stalks 
1-2 in. Flowers about J in. diam., solitary or in pairs or small 
cymes. Carpels 5. 
Valleys below Simla ; September. — Throughout India, ascending to 5000 
ft. — Tropical Africa and America. 
2. Sida obovata, Wall . ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 323, under S. rhombi- 
folia. Stellately pubescent. Leaves variable, obovate about 
1| x 1 in., or ovate about 2 x 1^ in., or orbicular about £ x £ 
in., base wedge-shaped, margins toothed at least on the upper 
half ; lower surface grey with dense pubescence ; stalks £ in. or 
less. Flowers about £ in. diam., in clusters. Carpels 7-10. 
Syree, Sutlej valley ; September, October. — Throughout India, ascending to 
6000 ft. — Tropics of both Hemispheres. 
