Malvaceae

Malva parviflora

Common Names: Marshmallow

Plant Form: Annual erect or sprawling herb. Size: Up to 1.2 m tall. Stem: Woody at base, upper stems green, widely spreading Leaves: Fan like, lobed with radiating veins, dark green. Flowers: Pink to whitish with 5 notched petals often overlapping. Fruit and Seeds: Capsule 1 cm in diameter, containing 8-12 non-hairy seeds. Habitat: Wastelands, abandoned gardens, roadsides, watercourses. Distinguishing Features: Distinguished from other Malva species by petals being same length as sepals. Impacts: Competes with vegetable crops, host of pests and diseases.