BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
67 
of October : the plant is a perennial. It is used in medicine as an emollient. In the language of flowers, it 
signifies Charity ; and as formerly it was the custom to plant it round the graves of the dead, it would seem 
as though it were intended to teach us to look with an eye of mercy on their faults. 
2.— THE DWARF MALLOW. (Malva rotundifolia, Lin.) 
Synonyme. —M. parviflora, Hudson. j Specific Character. —Stems prostrate. Leaves roundish, heart- 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1092; 2nd ed., t. 979. j shaped, bluntly 5-lobed. Stalks when in fruit bent downwards. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This species is of low growth, with prostrate stems and a strong deep root. The 
flowers are small, and generally of a bright pink, and they continue appearing all the summer. The leaf is 
roundish, and plaited. The variety, sometimes called M. pulsilla, has flowers so small as to be inconspicuous, 
and large, weedy-looking leaves. This species is very common by the road-sides in every part of England. 
3.— THE MUSK MALLOW. (Malva moschata, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 754 ; 2nd ed., t. 980; and our fig. in fine deep, pinnatifid, jagged segments. Calyx hairy, its outer sepals 
2, in Plate 15. linear-lanceolate. (Smith.) 
Specific Character. —Radical leaves kidney-shaped, cut; the rest 
Description, &c.— This species is one of the handsomest of the wild kinds of Mallow, and it generally 
flowers abundantly in July and August. It is common by the road-sides in gravelly soil, where it frequently 
grows two or three feet high, though always with very slender, branching stems. The lower leaves are lobed ; 
but those of the stem are cut into very slender segments. The whole plant smells faintly of musk. It is a 
perennial, and is frequently cultivated in gardens. 
GENUS II. 
THE MARSH-MALLOW. (Althaea, Lin.) 
Lin. Sgst. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx surrounded by an involucrum having from six to nine divisions. Fruit capsular, one-seeded, collected in a 
five-lobed head. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —This genus is very nearly allied to the Mallow ; but it is distinguished by the involucre 
being divided into from six to nine parts, instead of being only in three segments, as in the Mallow. There are 
only two species belonging to the genus Althaea natives of Britain ; though many of them are common in 
gardens, and particularly the well known Hollyhock. The name of Althea is taken from altheo , to cure, in 
allusion to the medical qualities of the plants. 
L—THE COMMON MARSH-MALLOW. (Alth/Ea officinalis, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 147 ; 2nd ed., t. 981. 
Specific Character. —Leaves simple, very soft and downy, slighly five-lobed. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This plant is very common in salt marshes and other moist places near the sea. It 
grows three or four feet high, with handsome leaves, and rather delicate-looking floAvers. The vvliole plant 
feels exceedingly soft, owing to the pubescence, or down, with which the leaves are covered. It is a perennial, 
k 2 
