Malvastrum
(name altered from Malva). ORD. Malvaceae. This genus contains about sixty species of greenhouse or hardy herbs, natives, chiefly, of America. Flowers scarlet, golden, or yellow, shortly pedunculate or sub-sessile, disposed in axillary or terminal spikes. Leaves variable, entire, heart-shaped, or partite. In all probability, the species here described are the only ones now in cultivation. For culture, see Malva. M. campanulatum (bell-shaped). fl. light purplish-rose, about 3/4in. in diameter, disposed in a long, loose, terminal spike. Late summer. l. large, deeply lobed; lobes twice sub-divided. Stem and leaves covered with short thin down. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Chili, 1839. Greenhouse perennial. M. coccineum (scarlet). fl. scarlet. July to September. l. very caesious. Stem very short. h. 6in. Missouri, 1811. Hardy. SYN. Cristaria coccinea (under which name it is figured in B. M. 1673).
M. c. grossulariaefolium (Gooseberry-leaved). fl. red. July to October. l., upper ones trilobate, central lobe elongated; lower less deeply lobed; petiole somewhat flattened above, hairy, like stem. Branches clothed with harsh stellate hairs. h. 2ft. United States, 1835. (B. M. 3698, under name of Malva Creeana.) M. Gilliesii (Gillies'). fl. bright red, 1in. or more in diameter. Summer. l. palmatifid. h. 6in. Extra-tropical South America. SYN. Modiola geranioides. M. lateritium (brick-coloured). fl. brick-red, handsome, on long peduncles. Autumn. l. three to five-lobed. h. 6in. South America, 1840. A prostrate, hirsute, hardy perennial. SYN. Malva lateritia.
M. Munroanum (Munro's). fl. reddish-pink, tinged with lightish-brown; pedicels one or two, from the upper leaves, in the axils, each bearing one or more flowers; calyx downy. June. l. alternate, distant, cordate, obtuse, three to seven-lobed; lobes again crenate-lobed, downy. Stems weak, requiring support. Columbia, 1828. Hardy. (B. M. 3537 and B. R. 1306, under name of Malva Munroana.)