General:
Perennial herb from a woody stem-base; stems woody, erect, branched, short- to stiff-hairy with star-shaped hairs, 0.5-2 m tall.
Leaves:
Alternate, mapleleaf-like, 5-15 cm long, 3- to 7-lobed, lobes triangular and coarsely toothed; stalks shorter than the leaves, hairy with fine star-shaped hairs, 2-5 cm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 1-several, axillary flowers on stalks 0.6-1.2 cm long, hairy; petals 5, rose-purple, 2-2.5 cm long; calyces 5-lobed, the lobes pointed, hairy, 3-5 mm long.
Fruits:
Carpels, rounded at the top, hairy, 7-8 mm long; seeds 2-4.
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
KEY TO MALVACEAE
1. Stigmas extending full length on the inner surfaces of the style branches.
2. Calyces with basal bractlets; carpels beakless ....................Malva 1. Stigmas terminal and head-like.
3. Leaves heart-shaped and toothed; petals yellow...............Abutilon
4. Petals usually more than 2 cm long; leaves 4-15 cm long; carpels glabrous on the sides, opening the full length at maturity.........................Iliamna |