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ORD. XVI. MALVACEÆ Juss.
Calyx 5-cleft, valvate in æstivation. Corolla of 5 petals, regular, twisted in æstivation. Stamens, indefinite, monadelphous, often united with the petals at their bases. Anthers reniform, 1-celled. Ovary 1. Styles single or several combined. Stigmas several. Fruit a capsule, with many cells and valves; or composed or many carpels, which are dehiscent or indehiscent, collected into a compact body, or placed in a whorl round the base of the style. Albumen [1] none, or fleshy, but not abundant. Embryo curved, with twisted and doubled cotyledons. Herbs, or shrubs, or trees. Leaves alternate, with stipules. Flowers axillary. They abound in mucilage, especially the seeds. The stems and roots afford an excellent fibre. Gossypium yields the Cotton.
1. LAVATERA. Involucre 3-lobed. |
2. MALVA. Involucre 3-leaved. |
3. ALTHÆA. Involucre 69 cleft. |
[1] There are a few (not British) genera with abundant endosperm, e.g. Radyera, from Australia and South Africa.
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