E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Malva pusilla Sm.
small mallow
Malvaceae (Mallow family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Reg Newman  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #12214)

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Distribution of Malva pusilla
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Introduction

Name change 2015: Malva rotundifolia to Malva pusilla

Species Information

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General:
Annual or biennial herb from a taproot; stems prostrate to spreading, branched, 20-60 cm long, with simple hairs.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate, blades heart- to kidney-shaped, 2-5 cm long, toothed, shallowly 5-to 7-lobed, with stalks up to twice as long as the blades.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of many flowers in axillary clusters or subterminal panicles, with or without long stalks; petals 5, white or pale purple, 4-5 mm long, claws fringed or bearded; calyces green and barely enlarged in fruit, about equal to the petals, lobed, the bractlets linear, fringed.
Fruits:
Carpels, numerous in flat disks, flattened, strongly wrinkled on the back, pointed angles without wings; seeds 1.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Mesic to dry roadsides and waste places in the lowland and montane zones; rare in S BC; introduced from Europe.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Malva rotundifolia L.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References