ALTHAEA hirsuta.
Hairy Althcea, or Marsh Mallow.
MONADELPHIA Polyandria.
Gen. Char. Styles numerous. Cal. double; ext. of
6—9 leaves. Capsules numerous, circularly arranged,
1-seeded.
Spec. Char. Leaves cordate, rough with hairs; lower
ones obtusely, upper ones acutely lobed and
toothed. Stem hispid. Peduncles single-flowered,
longer than the leaves.
Syn. Althaea hirsuta. Linn. Sp. PI. 966. Cav. Diss.
v. 2. t. 29. f . 1. mild. Sp. PL v. 3. 772. Turn.
$ Dillw. Pot. Guide, v. 1. 352. Spreng. Syst.
Veget. v. 3. 108. Hensl. Cat. Brit. PI. 5. Hook.
Brit. FI. 315.
J l LTHAEA hirsuta, although mentioned as a native of
fields near Cobham in Kent, upon the authority of Mr.
Jacob Rayer, in Turner and Dillwyn’s M Botanist’s Guide,”
has yet not found a place in the Floras of Sir J. E. Smith.
But the Rev. Professor Henslow, finding the plant still to
be abundant in the same station, namely, between Cobham
and Cuxton, Kent, very properly introduced it into his
useful “ Catalogue of British Plants.” Our specimens
here figured were found on the border of a wood in the
place just mentioned, by Joseph Woods, Esq.
Root small, subfusiform, annual; sending forth from its
upper part, or neck, several rounded, spreading or ascending,
mostly simple stems, from 6 to 8 inches to a foot in
length, clothed with numerous, long, spreading hairs or
bristles. Leaves remote, cordate, hairy, especially on the