68 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
flowering in August and September, and a decoction of it is employed for coughs. In France, lozenges and a 
syrup are made of it, the latter of which is well known, even in England, under the name of Sirop de 
Guimauve. 
2.— THE HISPID MARSH-MALLO W. (Althaea hirsuta, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., Supp., t. 2674 ; 2nd ed., t. 981 *; and ones obtusely, upper ones acutely, lobed and toothed. Stem hispid, 
our fig. 3, in PI. 15. Peduncles single-flowered, longer than the leaves. {Hooker.) 
Specific Character. —Leaves heart-shaped, rough with hairs ; lower 
Description, &c. —This species was long supposed not to he a native of Britain, hut is now ascertained 
that it has been long found in the fields near Cobliam, in Kent, though it has not been found in any other part 
of England. It is a dwarf plant, seldom growing more than six inches high, with dark rose-coloured flowers, 
which are very ornamental. The plant is covered with long, rigid, bristle-like hairs, beside the fine star-like 
down which is common to other plants belonging to the order. It is an annual, and flowers in June and July. 
GENUS III. 
THE LAVATERA. (Lavatera, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx surrounded by an involucrum of from three to six divisions. Fruit capsular, one-seeded, collected in a circle 
round a common axis, which is dilated in various ways. {Dec.) 
Description, &c. —The genus Lavatera was named in honour of the celebrated Lavater, the physiognomist. 
The genus is distinguished from the Mallows, by the seeds being placed in the dilated axis in the centre of the 
flower, instead of being enclosed in separate carpels surrounding that axis. The calyx consists of five sepals, 
which bend down over the centre ; and there is a large spreading involucre, consisting of three broad leaflets, 
which grow together at the base. 
1. —THE TREE-MALLOWt (Lavatera arborea, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1841 ; 2nd ed., t. 982 ; and our fig . 4, in PI. 15. 
Specific Character. —Stem arboreous. Leaves downy, plaited, with seven angles. Stalks axillary, aggregate, single-flowered. {Smith.) 
Description, &c.— The Tree-Mallow is the only species of the genus ever found wild in Great Britain, 
and even this is certainly not a true native ; as when it is found, it is only on cliffs overhanging the sea, and it 
is killed by the first frost if taken inland. Its stem is woody, like that of a tree, and it grows five or ten feet 
high ; the flowers resemble those of the Mallow, but are of a crimson or dark rose-colour. It is a very 
handsome plant when cultivated, and it will grow in any common garden soil. 
CHAPTER XIII. 
THE ST. JOHN’S-WORT FAMILY. (Hypericine.e, Juss.) 
Character of the Order. — Sepals four to five, either more or 
less cohering, or wholly distinct, persistent, unequal, with glandular 
dote. Petals four to five, hypogynous, with a twisted aestivation and 
oblique venation, often having black dots. Stamens indefinite, hypo¬ 
gynous, in three or more parcels ; anthers versatile. Ovary single, 
superior; styles several, rarely connate; stigmata simple. Fruit a 
capsule or berry of many valves and many cells; the inner edges of 
the former being curved inwards. Seeds minute, indefinite, usually 
tapering; embryo straight, with an inferior radicle, and no albumen. 
Herbaceous plants, shrubs, or trees, with a resiuous juice. Leaves 
opposite, dotted. Flowers generally yellow. Inflorescence variable. 
{Lindley). 
Description, &c.— There are only two genera belonging to this family, and both these were included in the 
genus Hypericum by Linnaeus, and still are so, by many botanists. The reason why the Tutsan has been 
