5. MALVÁSTRUM, Gray. False Mallow.
Calyx with an involucel of 2 or 3 bractlets, or none. Petals notched at the end or entire. Styles 5 or more; stigmas capitate. Carpels as in Malva, or else as in Sida, but the solitary kidney-shaped seed ascending and the radicle pointing downward, as in the former. (Name altered from Malva.)
1. M. angústum, Gray. Annual, slightly hairy, erect (6´–1° high); leaves lance-oblong or linear, with scattered fine callous teeth; flowers in the upper axils, on peduncles shorter than the broadly ovate-triangular sepals; bractlets and stipules setaceous; petals yellow, scarcely exceeding the calyx; carpels 5, kidney-shaped, smooth, at length 2-valved.—W. Tenn. to Iowa and Kan. Aug.
2. M. coccíneum, Gray. Perennial, low and hoary; leaves 5-parted or pedate, flowers in short spikes or racemes, the pink-red petals very much longer than the calyx; carpels 10 or more, reticulated on the sides and indehiscent.—Minn. to W. Tex., and westward.
6. SÌDA, L.
Calyx naked at the base, 5-cleft. Petals entire, usually oblique. Styles 5 or more, tipped with capitate stigmas; the ripe fruit separating into as many 1-seeded carpels, which are closed, or commonly 2-valved at the top, and tardily separate from the axis. Seed pendulous. Embryo abruptly bent; the radicle pointing upward. (A name used by Theophrastus.)
1. S. Napæ̀a, Cav. A smooth, tall (4–10° high) perennial; leaves 3–7-cleft, the lobes oblong and pointed, toothed; flowers (white) umbellate-corymbed, 1´ wide; carpels 10, pointed.—Rocky river-banks, along the Alleghanies, Penn. to Va., rare. (Cultivated in old gardens.)
2. S. Ellióttii, Torr. & Gray. A smooth, erect perennial (1–4° high); leaves linear, serrate, short-petioled; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered, short; flowers (yellow) rather large; carpels 9–10, slightly and abruptly pointed, forming a depressed fruit.—Sandy soil, S. Va. and southward. May–Aug.
S. spinòsa, L. Annual weed, minutely and softly pubescent, low (10–20´ high), much branched; leaves ovate-lanceolate or oblong, serrate, rather long-petioled; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered, shorter than the petiole; flowers (yellow) small; carpels 5, combined into an ovate fruit, each splitting at the top into 2 beaks.—A little tubercle at the base of the leaves on the stronger plants gives the specific name, but it cannot be called a spine.—Waste places, S. New York to Iowa, and common southward. (Nat. from the tropics.)
7. SPHÆRÁLCEA, St. Hil.