Herbs or shrubs. Bractlets of the involucels 3, distinct, or united at the base. Stamen-column anther-bearing at the summit. Cavities of the ovary 5-∞, 2-3-ovuled. Style-branches the same number as the ovary-cavities, stigmatic at the apex; carpels 2-valved, not septate between the seeds, separating from the axis at maturity. Seeds reniform. [Greek, swollen, referring to the somewhat inflated carpels of the typical species.]

About 40 species, natives of America and South Africa. In addition to the following, about 16 others occur in the southwestern United States. Type species: Phymosia abutiloides (L.) Desv., of the Bahamas.

1. Phymosia Remota (Greene) Britton. Maple-Leaved Globe-Mallow

Fig. 2865

Iliamna remota Greene, Leaflets 1: 206.

1906. Sphaeralcea remota Fernald, Rhodora 10: 52. 1908.

Perennial, erect, branched, 2°-6° high, finely stellate-pubescent and scabrous. Leaves nearly orbicular in outline, palmately 5-7-lobed or cleft, cordate, the lobes ovate or lanceolate, dentate, acute, the middle one generally longest; flowers pink, 1'-1 1/2' broad, short-pedicelled, clustered in the upper axils or in terminal spikelike racemes; bractlets of the invo-lucels linear, shorter than the calyx; calyx densely pubescent, its lobes triangular, acuminate.

In gravelly soil, known only from an island in the Kankakee River, Illinois. Summer. Previously referred to the western Sphaeralcea acerifolia Nutt.

2 Phymosia Cuspidàta (A. Gray) Britton. Sharo-Fruited Globe-Mallow

Fig. 2866

Sida stellata Torr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. 2: 171. 1827.

Not Cav. 1802. Sphaeralcea stellata T. & G Fl. N. A. I: 228. 1838. Sphaeralcea angustifolia var. cuspidata A. Gray, Proc.

Am. Acad. 22: 293. 1887. Sphaeralcea cuspidata Britton, in Britt. & Brown, I11.

Fl. 3: 519 1898.

Perennial, densely stellate-canescent; stems rather stout, simple, or somewhat branched, leafy, 1°-4° high. Leaves lanceolate, linear-lanceolate, or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, or acutish, firm, crenulate, the lower with petioles as long as the blade, the others short-petioled, the larger 2'-4' long, 1/4'-1' wide, sometimes hastately lobed toward the base; flowers red, 6"-10" broad, clustered in the axils, short-pedicelled; carpels 1-3-seeded, cuspidate, the tip often deciduous, wrinkled on the sides, stellate-canescent, or glabrate.

Kansas to Texas, Colorado, Arizona and Mexico. April-Aug.