Malva sylvestris L.

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Malva sylvestris

Photo: Bart Wursten
Park Kapermolen, Hasselt Belgium

Malva sylvestris

Photo: Bart Wursten
Park Kapermolen, Hasselt Belgium

Malva sylvestris

Photo: Bart Wursten
Park Kapermolen, Hasselt Belgium

Malva sylvestris

Photo: Bart Wursten
Josef Vermaesenplein, Malderen, Belgium

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names: Common mallow (English)
Frequency:
Status: Introduced
Description:
Erect perennial herb, up to 1 m tall. Leaves 5-10 cm in diameter, very shallowly lobed to more or less deeply 5-lobed, hairless except on the main veins; margin crenate to crenulate-serrate; petiole mostly 4-9 cm long, sometimes longer; stipules obliquely ovate, 5-10 mm long. Flowers, 2.5-5 cm in diameter, mauve-purple with light magenta or darker purple veins, borne in in 2-5-flowered clusters. Epicalyx bracts 3, oblong-lanceolate, c. two thirds the length of the calyx. Fruit of 9-11 mericarps, reticulate, usually hairless.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: sylvestris: of woods or forests
Habitat: Known as a rare escape in and around major cities.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Native to Europe. Known in Zimbabwe as a rare escape from cultivation.
Zimbabwe distribution: W,C
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Sunday 22 May 2016
Literature:

Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Page 501.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 61.


Other sources of information about Malva sylvestris:

Our websites:

Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Malva sylvestris

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Malva sylvestris
African Plant Database: Malva sylvestris
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Malva sylvestris
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Malva sylvestris
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Malva sylvestris
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Malva sylvestris
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Malva sylvestris
JSTOR Plant Science: Malva sylvestris
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Malva sylvestris
Plants of the World Online: Malva sylvestris
Tropicos: Malva sylvestris
Wikipedia: Malva sylvestris


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Malva sylvestris.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=139010, retrieved 29 March 2024

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