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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] There are a few (not British) genera with abundant endosperm, e.g. Radyera, from Australia and South Africa.

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