MONADELPHIA. POLYANDRIA. Maiva. 809 
Stem, two or three feet high, more or less upright, rough, hairy, nearly of 
the same thickness throughout, rather woody. Leaves with five lobes, 
rarely six or seven, unequally serrated, hairy on both sides, with a dark 
purple stain near the insertion of the leaf stalk. Leaf-stalks triangular, 
hirsute. Fruit-stalks nearly cylindrical, from the bosom of the leaf-stalks 
or branches. Calyx outer, leaves spear-shaped; both inner and outer 
hairy without, smooth within, toothed at the edges, and the teeth termi- 
nating in long hairs. Petals large, deeply notched, purple, with three 
or four darker streaks. Summits eleven or twelve. The colour of the 
flowers varies with more or less of a bluish cast, and the leaves are liable 
to be variegated with yellowish blotches. 
Common Mallow. (Irish : Hocus Fehain. Welsh : Hoccys, &c. cyffre * 
din . E.) Hedges, road-sides, and amongst rubbish. Its trivial name 
ill accords with its usual places of growth in this country, for I do not re¬ 
collect ever having found it in a wood. A. June—Aug.* 
* (Professor Davy observes that the fibres of all kinds of Mallows are particularly beauti¬ 
ful, especially of this species. They are finer than camel’s hair, and there is no difficulty in 
procuring them. Month. Mag. vol. 28. This species has been particularly recommended as a 
substitute for hemp, according to a prospectus of the Economic Institution. The thread 
procured by maceration is said to make more beautiful cloths and stuffs than even flax. 
From the Malvce , likewise, a new sort of paper, particularly suitable for the hanging of 
rooms has been fabricated in France. Our native kinds merit more attention from our 
ingenious artists than they have hitherto engaged, though to the agriculturist they are little 
better than cumber grounds. To the admirer of Flora, even in her most homely attire, 
“ The Mallow purpling o’er the pleasant sides 
Of pathways green,” 
will be more than tolerated. The'leaves and flowers yield a glutinous and emollient juice, 
sometimes applied externally; but Althaea officinalis possesses the same qualities in a more 
eminent degree. These plants were formerly considered as a wholesome ingredient in 
other food, and some foreign species are still thus used in China, Egypt, and other coun¬ 
tries. Horace likewise alludes to the same purpose,— 
- “ Me pascunt Olivce, 
Me Cichorea, levesque Malvce .” 
And again, 
(i Malvce salubres corpori.” 
Apion (Curculio ) Malvce , is extremely common on the Mallow, and is found upon Ho 
other plant. Kirby. It also affords nutriment and shelter to Apion Oxurum , and A. ceneum , 
Hallica rufipes, and Noctaa clavaria. 
Though this may not be a fit place for physiological disquisition, especially if ex¬ 
tending beyond the plant under immediate inspection, we cannot entirely omit allu¬ 
sion to discoveries, which, if proved to be correct, may lead to results the most im¬ 
portant. Early microscopic observers have professed to be acquainted with the appa¬ 
rent metamorphosis of animalcules into vegetables. The accounts of certain seeds 
possessing spontaneous motion, and then sending forth roots and becoming fixed ve¬ 
getables, were not unknown to Mr. Ellis, author of the work on Corallines, who 
has given a satisfactory solution of the phenomenon. He says, “ The minute seeds which 
evolve under water from fungi and mosses, and appear to have spontaneous motion, derive 
that motion from more minute animalcules in the water, which, by pecking at the seeds, 
moved them about in various directions, while the little animals were scarcely visible, till 
the food they had eaten discovered them.” In 1745, Mr. T. Needham published a volume, in 
which he not only minutely and accurately describes the action of the pollen of plants, but 
has correctly delineated it in the act of ejecting the particles contained within it. It must 
be recollected that the farina, or pollen, is supposed to perform the function of fecundating 
the seed ; and when seen through a microscope, every particle appears a little bag, con¬ 
taining a meal yet finer. The grains of the pollen of Geranium do not exceed the 400tlt 
