MALVA NEGLECTA

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

Common Names:- Dwarf mallow

Homotypic Synonyms:- Malva rotundifolia var. crispa.

Meaning:- Malva (L) Soft.

Neglecta (L) Overlooked, disregarded, neglected.

General description:- An erect, rather delicate-looking, short to medium annual.

Stems:-

1) 16-60 cm, ascending or decumbent, sparsely and rather shortly setose.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, long-petiolate, reniform to orbicular-cordate, with 5-7 crenate-dentate

lobes.

Flower:-

1) In clusters of 3-6, along the stem, fruiting pedicels mostly more than 10 mm.

2) Epicalyx-segments, usually 3, linear to ovate-oblong, shorter than the sepals.

3) Sepals. broadly triangular.

4) Petals, 9-13 mm, at least twice as long as the sepals, pale lilac to whitish,

a) bearded, staminal tube pubescent.

Key features:-

1) Lower flowers, in groups in each leaf-axil.

2) Dorsal face of ripe mericarps, smooth, or only faintly ridged.

3) Petals, at least twice as long as the sepals.

4) Calyx, not accrescent.

Fruit:-

1) Mericarps pubescent, scarcely ridged; dorsal face rounded, only faintly netted.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Seasonally wet habitats in gorges, field margins and waste-ground. 0-600

(-1000) m.

Distribution:- Scattered in mainland Greece, Peloponnisos and Ionian Islands. A

widespread weed, probably native to S Europe. Very rare on Crete currently know

from only two locations.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton