Pale-flowered Mallows - introduced (*Malva species)
Three small mallows grow in the district.
Dwarf Mallow (*Malva neglecta)
Native of Europe, Asia and Africa.Mallow of Nice (*Malva nicaeensis)
Native of the Mediterranean region.Small-flowered Mallow (*Malva parviflora)
Native of the Mediterranean region.Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family).
The three mallows are similar in general appearance with rounded, long-stalked leaves which are lobed. The lobes are finely toothed. The plants may be prostrate to semi-prostrate to erect. They have pale pink to pale blue flowers. Some differences between the three mallows are:
*Dwarf Mallow. Fruit rounded on the back, smooth, covered with fine short hairs. The petals are 2 to 2.5 times as long as the green floral leaves (the calyx).
*Mallow of Nice. Fruit flat on the back. Ridged or wrinkled, not hairy. The segments of the fruit are not ridged and the petals are much longer than the green floral leaves (the calyx).
*Small-flowered Mallow. Fruit ridged or wrinkled, not
hairy, flat on the back, The segments of the fruit are
ridged and the petals are shorter than the green floral
leaves (the calyx).
