XXIII. MALVACEAE. 
253 
Order XXIII. MALVACEAE. 
Herbs, shrubs or trees, often hairy or in Durionece in parts 
covered by umbrella-shaped scales. Leaves alternate, simple, 
lobed, or rarely compound [Bombaeece). Stipules free. An epi- 
calyx below the flower of 3 or more bracts free or connate. Flowers 
axillary or terminal solitary, fascicled or cymose, regular, often 
large and showy. Sepals 5. Petals 5 > twisted-imbricate in bud. 
Stamens indefinite; filaments connate in a tube; anthers often 
reniform i-celled. Ovary 2, many-celled of 2 to 5 or more carpels 
round a central axis; ovules 1 or more in each cell; styles connate 
at base or altogether. Fruit of separate cocci, or capsular loculi- 
cidal, often large and woody. Seed reniform or ovoid, sometimes 
woolly ( Bombax ), sometimes with pulpy aril {Durio). Genera 60. 
Species 700, whole world (King, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. lxii. 38). 
Besides the plants described below, there are in cultivation 
Gossypium braziliense Macfad, a bush cotton with short-stapled 
wool which was formerly half wild in Muar and can occasionally 
be seen in native gardens {Native name : Kapas), and Eriodendron 
anfractuosnm DC. The Kapok, a tall tree with horizontal spreading 
branches, often to be seen in villages. The origin is probably 
South India. 
Staminal tube entire long, shortly divided at tip only. 
Carpels ripe separating from axis, follicular dehiscing, 
low shrubs. 
Styles as many as carpels. 
Ovules solitary ...... 
Ovules 2 to more. 
Seeds 2 in a carpel, separated by a partition 
Seeds 2 or more, not separate 
Styles twice as many as carpels; follicles inde- 
hiscent ....... 
Fruit capsular; carpels connate; herbs, shrubs or 
trees; flowers large .... 
Calyx toothed; stigmas spreading 
* Calyx truncate; stigmas united. Tree . 
Staminal tube short divided into bundles of stamens; 
fruit capsular. Trees. 
Leaves digitate compound; seeds woolly 
Leaves entire, scaly coriaceous; fruit woody muri- 
cate; seeds arillate (Durioneae). 
Calyx campanulate; flowers large or medium. 
Flowers large; leaves scaly; anthers reniform 
or oblong . . . . ■ 
Flowers small, scaly; anthers opening by a 
pore, globose . . . . . 
Flowers medium; calyx dilate at base, forming 
a cushion-shaped ring .... 
Calyx 5-pouched at base; flowers very small 
1. SlDA 
2 . WlSSADULA 
3. Abutilon 
4. Urena 
5. Hibiscus 
6. Thespesia 
7. Bombax 
8. Durio 
9. Boschia 
10. Neesia 
11. CCELOSTEGIA 
