MALVA NICAEENSIS

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

Common Names:- Southern mallow

Homotypic Synonyms:- Althaea nicaeensis

Meaning:- Malva (L) Soft.

Nicaeensis (L) Either from Nice SE. France or Nicaea, Bithynia, NW.

Turkey.

General description:- Robust herbaceous plant,

Stems:-

1) To 40 cm, erect or ascending, pubescent.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, very variable in size, semicircular in outline, scarcely cordate, more or

less palmatifid, with 3-7 semicircular to oblong lobes, crenate.

2) Petiole, longer than the blade.

Flower:-

1) Epicalyx-segments, oblong-lanceolate to elliptical.

2) Sepals, usually glabrous beneath, or with a few stellate hairs.

3) Petals, 10-12 mm, bright purple or pink, without darker veins, glabrous or nearly

so.

Fruit:-

1) Mericarps, glabrous or pubescent, strongly reticulate, dorsal face flat, angles

sharp, but not winged.

Key features:-

1) Lower flowers, 2 or more in each leaf-axil.

2) Dorsal face of ripe mericarps, distinctly reticulate.

3) Petals, 10-12 mm, not more than 2·5 times as long as the sepals, usually bright

purple or pink.

4) Lower surface of the sepals with few stellate hairs or none.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats, roadsides, field margins and wasteground. 0-800 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. - Widespread in the Mediterranean

region and SW to C Asia. Sparingly scattered across Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to June, occasionally later in wet habitats.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton