Scientific name: Malva parviflora L.

Common name: Small flowered mallow, marshmallow

Family: Malvaceae

Origin:

Native of Europe.

Habit:

An erect or sprawling herb up to 1 m tall.

Habitat:

Weed of wasteland, cultivation and degraded pastures.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems can be erect, prostrate or sprawling. Leaves are rounded with broad lobes and scalloped margins, 1.7-8.5 × 2-10 cm, with spoke-like veins. Leaves are alternate with petioles (leaf stalks) 2.5-24 cm long.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers are radially symmetrical with short white to pale mauve petals. Clusters of individually stalked flowers (stalks are 0.7-2.2 cm long) are borne in leaf axils. Flowering occurs in autumn through to spring. The fruit is a flattened disc 7-8 mm in diameter and 2-3 mm high enclosed by the sepals of the flower. The fruit is divided radially into single-seeded wedges with a textured surface.

Distinguishing characteristics:

Prostrate or sprawling herb with round lobed leaves 1.7-8.5 × 2-10 cm, with scalloped margins. Small short-petalled white to pale mauve flowers are formed on individual stalks in the axils of the leaves. The fruits are discs enclosed by enlarged sepals, the radial segments are textured and contain one seed.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 2. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. (1996). Weeds: An Illustrated Botanical Guide to Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Sydney.