2. MÁLVA, L. Mallow.
Calyx with a 3-leaved involucel at the base, like an outer calyx. Petals obcordate. Styles numerous, stigmatic down the inner side. Fruit depressed, separating at maturity into as many 1-seeded and indehiscent round kidney-shaped blunt carpels as there are styles. Radicle pointing downward. (An old Latin name, from the Greek name, μαλάχη, having allusion to the emollient leaves.)
[*] Flowers fascicled in the axils.
M. rotundifòlia, L. (Common Mallow.) Stems procumbent from a deep biennial root; leaves round-heart-shaped, on very long petioles, crenate, obscurely-lobed; petals twice the length of the calyx, whitish; carpels pubescent, even.—Waysides and cultivated grounds; common. (Nat. from Eu.)
M. sylvéstris, L. (High M.) Biennial; stem erect, branched (2–3° high); leaves sharply 5–7-lobed; petals thrice the length of the calyx, large, purple and rose-color; carpels wrinkled-veiny.—Waysides. (Adv. from Eu.)
M. críspa, L. (Curled M.) A tall, erect annual, with round and angled toothed and crisped leaves, and small sessile flowers crowded in the axils.—Sparingly escaped from old gardens. (Adv. from Eu.)
[*][*] Flowers only in the upper axils, somewhat racemose or paniculate.
M. moschàta, L. (Musk M.) A low perennial, with the stem-leaves 5-parted, and the divisions once or twice parted or cleft into linear lobes, faintly musky-scented, the flowers rose-color or white (1½´ in diameter) on short peduncles crowded on the stem and branches, the fruit downy.—Escaped from gardens to waysides. (Adv. from Eu.)
M. Álcea, L., with the stem-leaves only once 5-parted or cleft, the lobes incised, large flowers like the last, but the fruit smooth, and bractlets of the involucel ovate, has escaped from gardens. (Adv. from Eu.)
3. CALLÍRRHOË, Nutt.