MALVA PARVIFLORA

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

Common Names:- Small-flowered mallow, Least mallow.

Homotypic Synonyms: Althaea parviflora, Malva rotundifolia subsp.

parviflora.

Meaning:- Malva (L) Soft.

Parviflora (L) Small-flowered.

General description:- Short to medium, hairy or hairless annual.

Stem:-

1) 20-50 cm, erect, with ascending branches.

Leaves:-

1) Long-petiolate; blade, suborbicular to reniform, cordate at the base, shallowly

3-5(-7)-lobed, crenate.

Flower:-

1) In small clusters of (l-)2-4 in the leaf axils, pedicels, up to 10 mm.

2) Epicalyx segments, narrowly lanceolate.

3) Calyx, accrescent and ± scarious in fruit, with very broadly triangular sepals.

4) Sepals, orbicular-deltate, with short cilia or none, strongly accrescent, patent

and scarious in fruit.

5) Petals, 4-5 mm, equalling or slightly exceeding the calyx, pale mauve, glabrous.

6) Staminal tube, subglabrous.

Fruit:-

1) Mericarps, with sharp, narrowly winged edges, transversely reticulate-rugose and

pubescent on dorsal face, with strong radiating veins on lateral faces; adjacent

margins of mericarps appearing shallowly toothed when seen from above.

Key features:-

1) Calyx, strongly accrescent and ± scarious in fruit.

2) Mericarps, with sharp, narrowly winged edges.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Coastal flats, seasonally damp, nitrified spots in olive groves, ruderal

habitats, along tracks, etc. 0-400(-800) m.

Distribution:- Coastal areas of W Greece. Widespread throughout the

Mediterranean region and SW Asia to Afghanistan. On Crete mainly around the

coastal areas.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton