Malva
Family :
Famille :
Malvaceae
Synonym(s) :
Synonyme(s) :
Dinacrusa G. Krebs (USDA-ARS 2024)
Axolopha (DC.) Alef. (USDA-ARS 2024)
Common Name(s) :
Nom(s) commun(s) :
Mallow
(USDA-ARS 2024)
Cheesweed (GBIF 2024)
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) schizocarp
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) schizocarp
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) mericarp
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) mericarp
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) seed
Malva nicaeensis schizocarp
Malva nicaeensis schizocarp
Small-flowered mallow (Malva parviflora) schizocarp
Small-flowered mallow (Malva parviflora) mericarp
Small-flowered mallow (Malva parviflora) mericarp
Round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla) schizocarp
Round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla) mericarp
Round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla) mericarp
Round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla) seed
High mallow (Malva sylvestris) schizocarp
High mallow (Malva sylvestris) mericarp
High mallow (Malva sylvestris) mericarp
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Explore plus :
Overview
Aperçu
Regulation :
Remarques Réglementation:
Regulation Notes:
Distribution :
Répartition :
The Malva genus consists of 30-40 (FNA 1993+), 53 (POWO 2024), or up to 81 accepted species (GBIF 2024). They are native and widespread in temperate, subtropical, and tropical North and South Africa, Europe, especially in the Mediterranean region, and most of Asia, as well as Australia and Tasmania (POWO 2024). The genus is introduced to central Africa, the Americas, and parts of temperate Asia (POWO 2024).
There are 7 reported Malva species in Canada, all introduced and found throughout the southern provinces and Yukon and Northwest Territories (Brouillet 2010+).
There are 10 reported Malva species introduced in the United States, 8 of which are confirmed and found in every continental state except for Mississippi but are also found in Alaska and Hawaii (USDA-NRCS 2024).
Habitat and Crop Association :
Habitat et Cultures Associées :
From personal observations, Malva species are generally hardy plants that like moist, moderately rich soils in full sun. However, some will tolerate or even prefer sand, heavy clay, and compacted soils. Others can handle both freezing temperatures and extreme heat. They are often found in disturbed areas, roadsides, ditches, lawns, and agricultural areas.
Malva parviflora L. and Malva neglecta Wallr. are common agricultural weeds in some areas, particularly where they overwinter. In those areas, they can provide a refuge for insects and diseases that can damage crops like whiteflies, thrips, alfalfa mosaic virus, cotton leaf crumple virus, tomato yellow leaf curl, and tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (Wilen 2006). Despite that, they are not considered major agricultural pests, often more problematic in landscapes, nursery crops, and low-maintenance turf and lawns where their woody taproots make them difficult to remove.
In agricultural settings, glyphosate and other systemic herbicides are uniquely ineffective at controlling Malva species, though this is not resistance developed from repeated exposure. Instead, mallows respond best to contact pesticides (University of Arizona 2021).
Economic Use, cultivation area, and Weed Association :
Utilisation économique, zone de culture et association de mauvaises herbes :
Malva sylvestris L. is widely grown as an ornamental crop around the world (Kumar et al. 2014), and Malva moschata L. and Malva alcea L. are also becoming increasingly popular for their ease of growth (personal observation).
Malva species are sometimes used as foraged edibles and functional foods where the leaves can be eaten in salads, leaves and stems can be cooked in soups, the fruits can be used similarly to capers, and the flowers are eaten in salads and used as garnish (Kumar et al. 2014; Jedrzejczyk & Rewers 2020). Malva nicaeensis All. is being investigated for its use as a novel functional food for its edible and nutritious leaves (Basheer et al. 2021).
Malva sylvestris is a well-known medicinal herb used for millennia for its anti-inflammatory effects on the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts when taken internally and when applied topically to the skin for abscesses, bruises, burns, dermatitis, swellings, and other conditions (Razavi et al. 2011). Other species of Malva are used similarly around the world. Weedy species of Malva introduced early in North America were used by Native Americans (NAEB 2003+) to treat conditions similar to those treated with Malva sylvestris.
Ornamental Malva species may become contaminated with weedy Malva neglecta and Malva parviflora (personal observation). Commercially planted Malva sylvestris crops can become infested with Amaranthus retroflexus L. (redroot pigweed), Convolvulus arvensis L. (field bindweed), Datura stramonium L. (jimsonweed), Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á. Löve (wild buckwheat), and Senecio vulgaris L. (common groundsel) (Brdar-Jokanović et al. 2018).
Duration of Life Cycle :
Durée du cycle vital:
Annual, biennial, perennial
Dispersal Unit Type :
Type d’unité de dispersion :
Schizocarp, seed
Distribution of Malva L. spp. in Canada and the United States (source: USDA-NRCS 2025)
Global distribution of Malva L. spp. (source: GBIF 2025)
General Information
RENSEIGNEMENTS GÉNÉRAUX
Taxonomic nomenclature in Malva, Althaea L., and Lavatera L. are still in flux, and intergeneric hybrids among these three genera suggest a very close relationship (FNA 1993+), which may result in changes in the future. USDA-ARS (2019) lists Lavatera as accepted, while POWO (2024) and WFO (2024) consider it a synonym of Malva, which in part explains the discrepancies in the number of species between various sources.
Malva neglecta and Malva parviflora are common widespread weeds that spread via seeds. Their seeds have a tough seed coat that results in poor annual germination but long-lived seeds that remain viable for many years (Wilen 2006). In North America, there are no native Malva species, and several are listed in invasive species databases (Swearingen and Bargeron 2016), although they are not usually considered highly problematic.
Malva alcea has been escaping gardens in southern British Columbia, Canada where it has rapidly become a common plant in roadside ditches in some areas and may become more problematic in the future (personal observations).
.
Malva neglecta infestation in a garden setting (Doug Doohan, Ohio State University/OARDC, Bugwood.org)
Identification
Identification
-
Schizocarp
Size
- Malva species schizocarp diameter range: 4 – 11 mm (FNA 1993+)
Specific examples (FNA 1993+):
- M. alcea L. schizocarp diameter: 4-8 mm
- M. pusilla Sm. schizocarp diameter: 5-7 mm
- M. neglecta Wallr., M. nicaeensis All., M. parviflora L., M. sylvestris L. schizocarp diameter: 6-7 mm
- M. verticillata L. schizocarp diameter 7-9 mm
- M. moschata L. schizocarp diameter 9-11 mm
Shape
- Schizocarps are circular or near circular, dorsiventrally compressed in 3 dimensions
Surface Texture
- Schizocarp surface may be slightly wrinkled (e.g. M. alcea, M. moschata), low ridged reticulate with shallow interspaces (e.g. M. neglecta, M. verticillata) or strongly ridged reticulate (e.g. M. parviflora, M. pusilla)
- Schizocarps may have dense hairs (e.g. M. moschata), sparse hairs (e.g. M. neglecta) or are without hairs (e.g. M. verticillata)
- Level of pubescence is variable in some species (e.g. M. pusilla, M. parviflora, M. nicaeensis)
- Hairs on M. moschata schizocarps are wide and flat
Colour
- Mature schizocarps are generally light brown or yellowish-brown coloured
- Schizocarps are dark brown in M. alcea and M. moschata
Other Features
- Schizocarps have a central, concave column that the mericarps are arranged around
- The diameter of the column is generally ¼ the width of the schizocarp, but is 1/3-1/2 of the total width in M. neglecta
- Malva species have 6 – 15(-20) mericarps in a schizocarp (FNA 1993+), the number can be used as an identification feature. For example:
o Malva alcea schizocarps have 18-20 mericarps, M. neglecta have 12-15 mericarps and M. nicaeensis have 7-10 mericarps (FNA 1993+)
o Malva parviflora schizocarps have 8-12 mericarps (Michael et al. 2009), and M. pusilla have 10-11 mericarps (FNA 1993+) - Sepals are generally pubescent and may be large enough to envelop the schizocarp (e.g. M. sylvestris)
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) schizocarp
-
Mericarp
Size
- Malva species mericarp length range: 1.5 – 5 mm (FNA 1993+; Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
Specific examples:
- M. arborea (L.) Webb & Berthel. mericarp length: 4–5 mm (FNA 1993+)
- M. alcea mericarp length: 2.4–2.8 mm (FNA 1993+)
- M. moschata, M. neglecta mericarp length: 1.5–2 mm (FNA 1993+)
- M. nicaeensis mericarp length: 2.4-2.7 mm; width: 2.6-2.9 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
- M. parviflora mericarp length: 2–2.5 mm (FNA 1993+)
- M. pusilla mericarp length: 2.3-2.6 mm; width: 2.2-2.5 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
- M. sylvestris mericarp length: 2.2-2.6 mm; width: 2.4-2.8 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
- M. verticillata mericarp length: 2-2.4 mm; width: 1.9-2.3 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
Shape
- Mericarps are wedge-shaped with 2 flat sides and a C-curved outside edge
- Mericarp flat sides are generally egg-shaped (e.g. M. parviflora), but some may be D-shaped (e.g. M. moschata) or circular (e.g. M. neglecta)
Surface Texture
- The curved, outside edge of the mericarp may be slightly wrinkled (e.g. M. alcea, M. moschata), low ridged reticulate (e.g. M. neglecta, M. verticillata) or strongly ridged reticulate (e.g. M. parviflora, M. pusilla)
- The outside edge may be densely hairy (e.g. M. moschata), with sparse hairs (e.g. M. neglecta), without hairs (e.g. M. verticillata) or be variable within a species (e.g. M. nicaeensis)
- The flat sides generally have ridges radiating from a central point, but are smooth in some species (e.g. M. neglecta)
- The inside faces are generally hairless, but M. moschata has short hairs
- The mericarp sides become thin at the center, and may break apart to expose part of the seed when mature (e.g. M. alcea, M. neglecta)
- The edges of the flat sides may be rounded (e.g. M. alcea, M. moschata), keeled (e.g. M. neglecta, M. verticillata) or sharp-toothed or -winged (e.g. M. parviflora, M. pusilla)
Colour
- Mature mericarps are generally light brown or yellowish-brown coloured
- Mericarps are dark brown-coloured in M. alcea L. and M. moschata L.
Other Features
- Each mericarp contains one seed
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) mericarp
-
Seed
Size
- Malva species seed length range: 1.2 – 3 mm (FNA 1993+; Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
Specific examples:
- M. arborea (L.) Webb & Berthel. seed length: 3 mm (FNA 1993+)
- M. alcea seed length: 2.2-2.5 mm; width: 2-2.2 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
- M. moschata seed length: 1.2-1.5 mm (FNA 1993+)
- M. neglecta seed length: 1.8-2 mm; width: 1.7-1.9 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
- M. nicaeensis seed length: 1.9-2 mm; width: 1.9-2 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
- M. parviflora seed length: 1.5-2 mm (FNA 1993+)
- M. pusilla seed length: 1.7-2 mm; width: 1.5-1.8 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
- M. sylvestris seed length: 1.7-1.9 mm; width: 1.7-1.9 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
- M. verticillata seed length: 1.7-2.1 mm; width: 1.8-2.2 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
Shape
- Seeds are wedge-shaped, strongly laterally compressed, with 2 flat sides and a C-curved outside edge
- The flat sides are near circular (e.g. M. alcea, M. neglecta), C-shaped (M. moschata, M. sylvestris) or D-shaped (M. pusilla, M. verticillata)
- A V-shaped hilum notch divides the seed into a cotyledon and a radicle end that may be equal in length (e.g. M. moschata, M. neglecta), or a slightly longer radicle (e.g. M. parviflora, M. pusilla)
Surface Texture
- Seeds generally have a transversely ridged texture, visible under 10x magnification
Colour
- Seeds are generally dull reddish-brown, greyish-brown or brown with a light brown hilum area, colour may vary within a species
Other Features
- The hilum is in a V-shaped notch or indent at the narrow end of the seed
- The notch may be narrow (e.g. M. neglecta) or wide (e.g. M. moschata, M. sylvestris)
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) seed
-
Embryo
Size
- Embryo fills the seed
Shape
- Embryo is folded
Endosperm
- Endosperm is hard and translucent whitish or transparent
Other Features
- Embryo in a peripheral position
- Embryo is yellowish coloured
Malva sp. showing embryo inside
Identification Tips
CONSEILS POUR L’IDENTIFICATION
Features that distinguish Malva species from other genera include:
- A circular schizocarpic fruit with a central, concave column
- Schizocarp that splits into several wedge-shaped mericarps during dispersal
- Mericarps with defined cross-walls (i.e. flat sides) that enclose a single seed
- Mericarps of some species are pubescent and a ridged reticulate texture
- Seeds relatively small (up to 3 mm diameter, FNA 1993+)
- Seeds with a V-shaped notch at the narrow end, dividing the radicle and cotyledons
- Embryo folded, but in a peripheral position with endosperm
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) mericarp
Additional Botany Information
AUTRES RENSEIGNEMENTS BOTANIQUES
Flowers/Inflorescence
- Inflorescences are usually in leaf axils and crowded in bundles, but occasionally are solitary or in unbranched inforescences at the top of stems (FNA 1993+).
- There is a collection of bracts at the inflorescence base and 3 persistent bractlets outside the sepals that are usually free or rarely joined at the base (FNA 1993+).
- Calyx is 5-lobed and cup-shaped; persistent or may enlarge in fruit (WFO 2024).
- Petals 5; purple, white, pink, or red; heart-shaped with the notch at the tip to wedge-shaped (WFO 2024); may have multiple notches or appear almost torn at the tips; petals are joined at the base and adhered to the base of the staminal tube (WFO 2024); often clawed with claws that are hairless of may have thin hairs along margins.
- Stamens are united into a staminal tube divided into numerous short filaments up its length that are tipped with kidney-shaped anthers.
- Ovary with 8-15 chambers with 1 ovule in each; with as many linear style branches as chambers (WFO 2024) with an upper stigmatic surface; styles emerging from the tip of the staminal tube.
- Flower petal shape and fruit characteristics are often used to distinguish different species of Malva; for instance, Malva neglecta has longer petals and smooth fruits compared to Malva parviflora, which has shorter petals and wrinkled fruits.
- Malva can be distinguished from Lavatera by their 3 usually free bracts located outside their calyx compared to 3-9 joined bracts in Lavatera.
Vegetative Features
- Annual, biennial, or perennial herbs, subshrubs, or shrubs with hairy or hairless erect, ascending, or trailing stems (FNA 1993+).
- Hairs are simple or often star-like (stellate) (FNA 1993+); stellate hairs are common throughout the Malvaceae family.
- Reduced leaf-like appendages (stipules) found at leaf bases that may be persistent or deciduous, linear, lance-shaped, triangular, egg-shaped, or sometimes curved (falcate) (FNA 1993+).
- Leaf blades are often heart-shaped when young, becoming rounded or kidney-shaped, unlobed or often palmately lobed with 3–7(9) lobes (FNA 1993+); lobes are usually shallow but may be very deeply divided, especially in ornamental cultivars.
- Leaf bases are heart-shaped or appear abruptly cut-off; margins are typically rounded-toothed or square-toothed (FNA 1993+).
Malva alcea inflorescence with flowers in Gibsons, BC, Canada (Lyrae Willis, Environmental Science Freelance Writer, lyraenatureblog.com)
Similar Species
ESPÈCES SEMBLABLES
Similar species are based on a study of seed morphology of various species, and those with similar dispersal units are identified. The study is limited by physical specimen and literature availability at the time of examination, and possibly impacted by the subjectivity of the authors based on their knowledge and experience. Providing similar species information for seed identification is to make users aware of similarities that could possibly result in misidentification.
Lavatera L. species
Lavatera is related to Malva species, most closely to M. sylvestris (Ray 1998). The mericarps are generally larger (L. trimestris diameter 3.3-3.7 mm, FNA 1993+) than Malva mericarps, generally with thinner (e.g. L. trimestris) or absent (i.e. L. thuringiaca) cross-walls (i.e. flat faces) compared to Malva species. Seeds of Lavatera are generally larger (length range: 1.68-2.89 mm; width: 1.51-2.4, Özbek and Uzunhisarcikli 2020) than many Malva species, and have a wide hilum notch and lack the transverse ridges seen on Malva seeds.
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Comparison Window
Fenêtre de comparaison
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) schizocarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) mericarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) mericarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Common mallow (Malva neglecta) seed
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Malva nicaeensis schizocarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Malva nicaeensis schizocarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Small-flowered mallow (Malva parviflora) schizocarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Small-flowered mallow (Malva parviflora) mericarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Small-flowered mallow (Malva parviflora) mericarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla) schizocarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla) mericarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla) mericarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
Round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla) seed
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
High mallow (Malva sylvestris) schizocarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
High mallow (Malva sylvestris) mericarp
MAIN SPECIES
ESPÈCES PRINCIPALES
Malva
Malva
Malvaceae
High mallow (Malva sylvestris) mericarp
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Reference(s)
Référence(s)
Basheer, L., Cohen, A., & Shelef, O. 2021. From Traditional Food to Functional Food? Evaluation of Malvaceae Species as Novel Food Crops. Agronomy, 11(7), 1294. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071294
Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora: The Carpathian Mountains Region. Springer, The Netherlands. 1046 pp.
Brdar-Jokanović, M., Ljevnaić-Mašić, B., Džigurski, D., Koren, A., Merkulov-Popadić, L., Nikolić, L., & Adamović, D. 2018. Weed Flora in Organic Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris L.). Contemporary Agriculture, 67(2), 143–148. https://doi.org/10.2478/contagri-2018-0020
Brouillet L, Desmet P, Coursol F, Meades SJ, Favreau M, Anions M, Bélisle P, Gendreau C, Shorthouse D, (2010+). Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Online at http://data.canadensys.net/vascan Accessed March 16, 2024.
Flora of North America (FNA) Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. New York and Oxford. http://beta.floranorthamerica.org Accessed October 28, 2024.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Secretariat. 2024. Amaranthus L. in. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei via GBIF.org Accessed March 16, 2024.
Jedrzejczyk, I., & Rewers, M. 2020. Identification and Genetic Diversity Analysis of Edible and Medicinal Malva Species Using Flow Cytometry and ISSR Molecular Markers. Agronomy, 10(5), 650. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050650
Kumar, G., Kadam, G. B., Saha, T. N., S, G. K., & Kumar, R. 2014. Studies on floral biology of Malva sylvestris L. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 17(02), 295–297. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265165899_Studies_on_floral_biology_of_Malva_sylvestris_L
Native American Ethnobotany–(NAEB). 2003+. A Database of Foods, Drugs, Dyes and Fibers of Native American Peoples, Derived from Plants. http://naeb.brit.org Accessed November 14, 2024.
Özbek, F. and Uzunhisarcikli, M.E. 2020. Seed morphological properties of the genus Lavatera L. (Malvaceae) in Turkey. Biological Diversity and Conservation 13: 109-114.
Plants of the World Online (POWO). 2024. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org Accessed March 16, 2024.
Ray, M.F. 1998. New combinations in Malva (Malvaceae: Malveae). Novon 8: 288-295.
Razavi, S. M., Zarrini, G., Molavi, G., & Ghasemi, G. 2011. Bioactivity of Malva Sylvestris L., a Medicinal Plant from Iran. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 14(6), 574-579. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586856
Swearingen, J., C. Bargeron. 2016. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org
United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). 2024. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch Accessed November 14, 2024.
United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 2024. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA, http://plants.usda.gov Accessed March 16, 2024.
University of Arizona. 2021. Malva. Arizona Pest Management Center. https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/agricultural-ipm/vegetables/vipm-archive/vipm-weeds-view/malva
Wilen C. A. 2006. Mallows Management Guidelines–University of California Integrated Pest Management (UC IPM). https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74127.html
World Flora Online (WFO). 2024.. Published on the Internet; http://www.worldfloraonline.org Accessed March 17, 2024.