MALVA AEGYPTIA

Family and Genus:- See- MALVACEAE/Sect. BISMALVA

Common Names:- Egyptian mallow

Homotypic Synonyms:- Dinacrusa aegyptia.

Meaning:- Malva (L) Soft.

Aegyptia (L) From Egypt, Egyptian.

General description:- Erect to decumbent annual, branched from base.

Stems:-

1) (5-)10-25 cm, sparsely appressed-pubescent with small, stellate hairs.

Leaves:-

1) Blade, suborbicular in outline, dissected almost to base, into 3 primary lobes,

which are again deeply divided.

Flower:-

1) Solitary in the leaf axils or in small terminal clusters on short, slender pedicels.

2) Epicalyx segments, 2 or 3, free, linear-lanceolate, with stiff hairs on the margins.

3) Sepals, 7-11 mm, broadly triangular, shortly acuminate.

4) Petals, scarcely exceeding sepals, pale rose-pink.

5) Staminal tube, pubescent.

Fruit:-

1) Mericarps, usually glabrous, lateral faces conspicuously ridged; dorsal face flat,

transversely ridged.

Key features:-

1) Epicalyx segments, 2 or 3, free, linear-lanceolate.

2) Lower flowers solitary in the leaf-axils, or all flowers in a terminal cluster.

3) Sepals ovate or triangular, less than 3 times as long as broad . .

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky and stony slopes with dry open shrubby vegetation, dry meadows,

fallow fields. 0-300(-550) m. also on small islands.

Distribution:- Spain, N Africa, Greece, Crete and the E Med, including Cyprus.

Scattered mainly around the coastal regions of Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr to early June.

Photos by:- Jenny Neal