OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS. 
19 
CHAPTER VII. 
MALVACE^ Brown. 
Essential Character. — Calyx usually of five sepals, rarely three to 
four, more or less connected at the base, valvate in astivation, usually 
hearing hracteas at the base ; these constitute an outer calyx or an invo- 
lucrum. Petals equal in number to the sepals, and alternating -svith 
them, hypogynous, equal, twisted in astivation, sometimes distinct, hut 
usually adnate to the tube of the stamens at the base. Stamens nume- 
rous, definite, hut usually indefinite ; filaments connected into a column, 
unequal, outer ones shortest ; anthers one-celled, kidney-shaped, burst- 
ing by a transverse chink. Ovary usually of many carpels disposed in 
a whorl around the axis, almost always connected. Styles equal in 
Descbiption, &c. — Almost all the plants included i 
number with the ovaries, sometimes distinct, sometimes joined in one, 
with an equal number of stigmas, which are more or less distinct. Car- 
pels one to two-seeded, opening by a chink on the inside, sometimes 
many-seeded, opening by valves and with a dissepiment in the middle 
of each valve, hearing the seeds, sometimes nearly free, sometimes con- 
nected into a many-celled capsule, sometimes connate, into an anoma- 
lous kind of berry. Seeds ovate or somewhat triquetrous, covered by 
a smooth or villous epidermis. Albumen none. Embryo straight, 
dicotyledonous, with a terete radicle, and yellow twisted cotyledons. 
((7. Don.) 
this order have showy flowers, and they all abound in 
mucilage. Botanically they are distinguished by the filaments of the stamens being connected into a column. 
inclosing the styles, and the anthers being one-ceUed and Iddney-shaped. From these peculiarities, plants 
belonging to the order Malvacese are very easily recognised. The petals of the flowers are frequently astringent, 
and those of the Chinese Rose Hibiscus are said to be used in China for blacking. One of the genera of this 
order (Gossypium) produces cotton, but all its species are stove plants. 
GENUS I. 
MALVA Lin. THE MALLOW. 
Lin. Syst. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-cleft, girded by a three-leaved involucrum, or rarely with a five or six-leaved involucrum. Leaflets 
oblong or setaceous. Carpels capsular, many, disposed in a round head. {Q. Don.) 
Description, &c. — Veiy few species of Mallow are greenhouse plants, and even those that are, will generally 
stand out in the open air during the summer and autumn, only requiring protection during the winter, and from 
the frost of spring. 
1.— MALVA CREEANA Graham. THE SHOWY RED-FLOWERED MALLOW. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 3698 ; and our jig. 2, in PI. 6. 
Specific Character. — Shrubby. Branches nearly erect. Leaves 
three-lobed, deeply cut, somewhat undulated, deltoid-ovate, covered 
with a green stellate pubescence above, and with a white dense pubes- 
cence below. Flowers solitary, axillary, on large peduncles. Leaves 
of the involucre filiform. 
Description, &c. — This very handsome species was named in honour of Mr. Cree, of the Addleston Nursery, 
near Chertsey, though neither its native country nor the exact date of its introduction are known. It is supposed, 
however, to have been introduced about the year 1834. It is a most abundant flowerer, and it continues 
producing a succession of blossoms for several months. 
2.— MALVA CALYCINA Thunh. THE BROAD-CUPPED MALLOW. 
Engraving. — Bot. Reg., t. 297. I young, pilose, hispid. Flowers solitary. Peduncles longer than the 
Specific Character. — Leaves cordate, crenate, sub-lobate when 1 petioles of the leaves. Sepals of the calyx very broad. 
Description, &c. — This is a very handsome species, with large rose-coloured flowers, and broad dark-green 
leaves. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, where it is said to grow to the height of fifteen or sixteen feet. 
D 2 
