MALTA ODOR'ATA. 
SWEET-SCENTED M.4LLOW. 
E XO G E K i 
OR 
DICOTYLEDONE.E 
Natural division 
to which 
this plant belongs. 
NATURAL ORDER, MALVACEAE. 
THALAM1FLOR.B, f Artificial divisions 1 ^ MOXADELPIIIi 
OF ) to which > POLYANDRIA, 
BECAXDOLLE. ^ this Plant belongs. ) OF LIXXEXJS. 
No. 218, 
GENUS. Malta. LiNNmus. Intollcelllai bractea bi-stipulata, basi 
calyci adnata, t. rarias pedunculo inserta. Calyx quinquefidus, laciniis jesti- 
vatione valvatis. Corolla; petala 5, hypogyna, obovata, saepius inaequilatere 
emarginata unguibus imo tubo stamineo adnata, EPStivatione convolutiTa. 
Tubus stamineus brevis, colamnEeformis, apice in filamenta plurima filiforniia 
divisus. Anthers reniformes, bivalves. Ovarium sessile, multiloculare, Ov- 
cla in loculis solitaria, adscendentia. Styli loculorum numero, filiformes, axi 
centrali inserti, basi coaliti; stigmata obtusa, Capsula depressa, poly-cocca, 
coccis monospermis, ab axi centrali vix dilatata solubilibus, apice interdum 
bicuspidatis, nunc dorso v, angulo centrpJi bivalvibus, nunc indehiscentibus. 
Semen reniforme testa erustacea, emarginaturse sinu umbilicata. Embryo 
intra, albumen parcissimum, mucilaginosum bomotrope arcuatus ; cotyledon- 
ibus foliaceis, sese plicato involventibus, radicula infera. HerbiE suffrutices 
V. frutices, rarius arbusculee, per totum orbem disperses, in regione Mediterranea, 
et Capite bonse spei frequenter tamen crescentes; foliis altemis, petiolatis, in- 
tegris V seepius angulatis, plus minus lobatis, rarissime digitato-partitis, stipulis 
petiolaribus geminis, floribus axilaribus, nunc in apice ramulorum subsessili- 
bus, et foliis bracteseformibus stipatis, nunc racemosis, spicatis v. glomeratis, 
corollis colons omnis, E^DL 1 CHER ; Genera Plantarura, p. 980. 
SPECIES. Malvm odorata, Suffruticosa, glandulosa, pubescens, foliis 
petiolatis 3-5-lobis, acute dentatis petiola multo longioribus, involucellis ovato- 
lanceolatis, floribus solitariis carneis. 
Character of the Genus, Malta. Intolucellum formed of 
bi-stipulate bracts, joined to the base of the calyx, rarely inserted on 
the peduncle. Calyx divided into five parts, valvate in sestivation. 
Petals of the corolla five, hypogynous, obovate, frequently unequal, 
notched, joined by the ungues into a staminous tube, convolute in 
aestivation, Staminous tube short, column formed, divided at the 
apex into many filiform filaments. Anthers kidney-shaped, two 
valved. Ovarium sessile, many-celled. Ovula solitary in the cells, 
ascending. Styles the number of the cells, filiform, inserted on a 
central axis, joined at the base. Stigma obtuse. Capsule depressed, 
many cocca, one-seeded, separable from a scarcely dilated central 
axis, sometimes two-valved from the back, or central angle, some¬ 
times indehiscent. Seed kidney-shaped, testa crustaceous. 
Description of the Species, Malva odorata. Stem suffru- 
ticose, round, branched, from three to twelve feet high, covered 
