Flora Medica

scent, 1 -seeded, circularly arranged round the axis. Radicle inferior.W. and A.284. M. sylvestris Linn. sp. pi. 969. E. Bot. t. 671. Fl.Lond. t. 51. Woodv. t. 54. DC. prodr.i. 432. Common inwaste placesall over Europe. (Common Mallow.)Root tapering, branching, whitish. Leaves deep green, soft and downy,serrated, plaited, with 7 acute lobes the ; uppermost with fewer, butdeeper, and more acute, lobes, than the lower ones. Flowers numerous,of a shining purple, veiny, on simple, aggregate, hairy, axillary stalks.Pollen whitish, large. Ripe carpels reticulated at the back. Mucilaginousand emollient like the marsh-mallow. In tenesmus it is employedas a clyster; in external inflammations as a poultice.ALTHAEA.Calyx surrounded by a 6-9-cleft involucel. Carpels numerous,capsular, closely and circularly arranged round the axis.W. and A.285. A. officinalis Linn. sp. pi. 966. E. Bot. t. 147. Woodv.t. 53. D C. prodr.i. 436. S. and C.i.t.51. Common in mostparts of Europe near the sea. (Marsh Mallow.)Root tap-shaped, rather woody. Herb of a hoary green, peculiarlysoft and downy, with fine starry pubescence. Stems several, about 1yard high, simple, round, leafy, tough and pliant. Leaves ovate orheart-shaped at the base, various in breadth, plaited, 5-ribbed, unequallyserrated, soft and pliable, more or less deeply divided into 5acute lobes. Flowers in very 'short, dense, axillary panicles, rarelysolitary, of a delicate uniform blush colour. Involucre with 8, 9, 10or 1 2 divisions. Smith. The whole plant, especially the root, yieldsin decoction a plentifultastless colourless, mucilage,' very salutary incases of irritation. It is used as a demulcent for children and is afavourite medicine with the French who employ it constantly in poultices,lozenges &c. under the name of Guimauve.URENA.Calyx persistent, surrounded by a 5- (or rarely 1 0) -cleft persistentinvolucre. Style 1, 10-cleft at the apex. Carpels 5(or by abortion 4), capsular, connivent, indehiscent, 1-seeded,usually echinated externally with numerous prickles having multifidreflexed points (glochidate). Radicle inferior. Leavesusually bearing beneath glandular pores on one or more of thenerves near the base. W. and A.286. U. lobata Linn. sp. pi. 974. DC. prodr.i. 4-41.W.and J.i.46. (DW.elth.t.319. f. 412. Rumf. vi. t. 25. f. 2. A.)East Indies.Herbaceous. Leaves roundish, with 8 or more short sometimesobsolete acute or obtuse lobes, more or less velvety, 5-7-nerved, with 1or sometimes 3 glands. Segments of the involucre 5, oblong-lanceolate,equal to the expanded calyx. Carpels densely pubescent, echinate.