Mallows

Mallow Family - Malvaceae

Bladder Ketmia Hibiscus trionum

Native throughout the Mediterranean region and eastern Europe, eastwards through the Caucasus to Iran. Leaves deeply fingered with lobed margins to the leaflets. The seed pods inflate after flowering to form bladder-like globes.


Habit	Flower	Leaf	Seed capsule

Velvetleaf Abutilon theophrasti

Native from Central Asia eastwards to eastern China. A weed of cultivated fields. Leaves heart-shaped and with the most amazingly soft, plush-velvet feel! Seed capsules inflated and with strongly ribbed sides and spiked tops.


Habit	Flower	Leaf	Seed capsule

Common Mallow Malva sylvestris

Native Europe and North Africa, eastwards to Central Asia. Petals 15-30mm, pinkish-mauve with darker veins; sepals broadly triangular, less than three times as long as broad; epicalyx segments three, free, oblong lanceolate. Dorsal face of ripe fruits distinctly wrinkled.


Flowers	Flower	Calyx	Leaf

Nutlets

French Mallow Malva nicaeensis

Native from the Azores eastwards through the Mediterranean Region to Pakistan. A low-growing, often straggling, plant, variably hairy or more or less smooth. Petals rather pale, pinkish, 4-12mm long and typically less than twice as long as calyx.


Habit	Flower	Calyx detail	Leaf

Least Mallow Malva parviflora

Native from the Azores eastwards through the Mediterranean Region to Pakistan and across Saharan Africa. A rather variable species but typically with quite deeply lobed leaves and noticeably small flowers that are a very pale pink or almost white in colour. Epicalyx lobes narrow and rather sharply pointed. Nutlets smooth, but with sharply ridged - almost winged - edges.


Habit	Flower	Leaf

Dwarf Mallow Malva neglecta

Native throughout most of Europe and the Mediterranean Region eastwards to the Himalayas. Typically a prostrate species, but sometimes reaches upward when at the base of walls or fences. Leaves more less entire and palmately lobed. Epicalyx lobes narrow and rather sharply pointed. Flowers pale pink. Nutlets smooth, not ridged on the surface.


Habit	Flower	Calyx	Leaf

Smaller Tree Mallow Malva multiflora

(Lavatera cretica) Native in western and southern Europe and the Mediterranean Region. Very similar to Common Mallow, but epicalyx segments joined for at least their lower third with free part broadly triangular ovate. Dorsal face of ripe fruits almost smooth.


Habit	Habit	Flower	Flower

Calyx	Calyx	Leaf	Leaf

Tree Mallow Malva arborea

Native to the Mediterranean Region and northwards along Atlantic coasts to Britain.


Habit	Flower	Leaf	Nutlets

Rough Mallow Malva setigera

(Althaea hirsuta) Native throughout the Mediterranean Region and eastwards to the Caucasus and Iran. Epicalyx with seven to nine segments, shortly joined at the base.