A lthaea. L. 15. 12.
A. officinalis. L. Marsh Mallows. Found on the seacoast
in salt marshes, with a strong, erect stem, two feet high ; thick-
woolly, and leaves cordate and soft-downy on both sides ; entire,
or 3-lobed ; large purple flowers ; blossoms in August; probably
introduced.
A. rosea. L. Common Hollyhock. Well known in our gardens
; flowers red, white, yellow, very dark-brown. Within a
few years the column of stamens has changed into small petals,
arranged into three or more stellate sets, and adding much to the
beauty of the flower. Leaves heart-form.
A. ficifolia. L. Fig-leafed Hollyhock, has leaves somewhat'palmate
in 7 lobes.
H ibiscus. L. 15. 12.
H. palustris. L. Marsh Hibiscus. Grows about salt marshes
; stem 3 - 5 feet high, erect, downy, with ovate and dentate
leaves, soft-downy beneath, and whitish; flowers large, purple ;
outer calyx of numerous divisions ; inner calyx of 5 sections ;
blossoms in.August; on Charles River. Big. The fibres of
the bark are strong, and are wrought sometimes into cordage.
Several exotic species are cultivated for ornamental plants, as H.
Moscheutos, W., H. Syriacus, L . ; H. Trionum, L ., or Bladder
Ketmia, Flower of an Hour, is a common species in the gardens.
Malva. L. 15. 12.
M. rotundifolia. L. Low Mallows. Has a prostrate stem,
with roundish and cordate leaves ; flow'ers white and reddish-white,
pedicelled ; grows in fields, and especially about houses ; blossoms
from June to October, and is common everywhere, being like
catnep, motherwort, &c., one of the attendants of man in his
habitations in temperate climes.
M. sylvestris. L. High Mallows. Somewhat naturalized,
growing for years without any cultivation ; stem 4 — 6 feet high,
and hairy, with large roundish leaves, about 7-lobed, and with
reddish purple flowers on short pedicels ; blossoms in July, in
fields and gardens ; introduced.
M. crispa. L. Crisped or Curled Mallows, whose leaves
are so beautifully crisped, light-green, and angular ; whitish flowers,
smaller than the preceding ; cultivated in gardens, like the other,
for its mucilaginous leaves; supposed to be useful in poultices.
The bark is sometimes formed into cordage.
M. moschata. L. Musk Mallows. Is the beautiful mallows
of the gardens, with delicate white flowers, and yielding an odor
so greatly resembling musk, when faintly but clearly perceived ;
can scarcely be said to be naturalized. Its snow-white flowers
recommend it to the eye of taste.
Probably other species may be cultivated in some parts of the
Commonwealth.
S ida. L. 15. 12.
S. abutilon. L. Indian Mallows. Stem 2 - 5 feet high,
with large, roundish, cordate leaves, woolly ; flowers on short
petioles, yellow or orange-colored; grows on the sides of roads
and in waste fields, and blossoms in July ; introduced, but fully
naturalized.
L avatera. L . 15. 12.
L . arborea, L ., Tree Mallows, and L. Thuringiaca, L.,
are cultivated for ornament. They afford beautiful flowers ;
named after the celebrated Lavater ; the former being a native of
England, Spain, and Africa, and the latter of Germany, Hungary,
&c.
Malope. L . 15. 12.
•M. malacoides. L. Smooth Mallows. Introduced from Tuscany
and Barbary ; resembles the preceding, but its outer calyx is
3-leafed, and that of Lavatera is 3-parted ; flowers of both much
alike, light rose-colored. Some beautiful species are cultivated
in the greenhouse.