Authors: C. Stace, R. van der Meijden (ed.) & I. de Kort (ed.)
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Scientific name:

Malva sylvestris

Vernacular name:

Mallow, Common


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Malva alcea - Musk-mallow, Greater
Malva nicaeensis - Mallow, French

Common Mallow

Scientific name: Malva sylvestris L.

Diagnostic features
Spreading perennial with erect to decumbent stems to 1(1.5)m.
Leaves with shallow rounded lobes.
Petals more than (12)20mm, bright pinkish-purple with dark stripes.
Nutlets strongly reticulate, usually glabrous, with sharp angle between dorsal and lateral surfaces.

Chromosome number: 2n=42.

Habitat
Native; waste and rough ground, by roads and railways.

Distribution
Common throughout lowland England, Wales and Channel Islands, scattered elsewhere.

This species is keyed out on Page 3070 in the Text Key.

Note
See Lavatera cretica for differences.

Malva sylvestris (Mallow, Common)
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