Common Australian Garden Weeds

Modiola caroliniana

Scientific name: Modiola caroliniana (L.) G. Don


Red flowered mallow (Modiola caroliniana) with highly divided leaves, young fruit and orange-red flower.


Alternately arranged leaves with flowers borne in the leaf axils.


Close-up of the orange-red flower.


Some leaves are not highly dissected, but are crenated instead.

Synonyms: Malva caroliniana L.

Common name: Red flowered mallow, carolina mallow.

Family: Malvaceae

Origin:

Native of warmer regions of North America.

Habit:

Prostrate herb forming a thickened root stock, roots along the stems.

Habitat:

Weed of tended areas.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Leaf blades are very variable in shape and size from oval to highly divided. 2-5 cm × 1.8-6 cm with scalloped margins. Leaves are alternate with petioles (leaf stalks) 1-8.5 cm long.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers have reddish petals 7-9 mm long and are borne singly from the leaf axils. Flowering occurs mainly in spring. The fruits are hairy and disc-like 7-8 mm in diameter and 3-4 mm high, separating radially into wedges. Each wedge has two ridges and each ridge ends in two 1-1.5 mm spines.

Distinguishing characteristics:

A prostrate herb forming a thickened root-stock with variable stalked leaves and reddish flowers. The fruits are 7-8 mm discs which separate into wedges that have two distinctive ridges, each with two 1-1.5 mm spines.

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.