Common mallow

July 31, 2015

Malva neglecta Wallr.

Life cycle

Spreading annual or biennial.

common mallow plant
Common mallow plant.

Leaves

Cotyledons are heart-shaped with three main veins. Leaves are alternate, rounded with a heart-shaped base, palmately veined, hairy and found on long, slender, hairy petioles. Margins are round-toothed and obscurely lobed.

common mallow seedling common mallow leaf
Common mallow seedling (left). Common mallow leaf (right).

Stems

Spreading and partly erect stems are branched from the base and up to 1 foot tall.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers have five white and purple-tinged petals; flowers are formed on stalks in the leaf axils. Fruit are capsules that resemble a button or cheese wheel. Each capsule contains 12 to 15 compartments; each compartment has one reddish brown to black, flattened, and rounded seed with a notch.

common mallow flower common mallow fruit
Common mallow flower (left). Common mallow fruit (right).

Reproduction

Seeds and stem fragments.

Similar weeds

Venice mallow (Hibiscus trionum L.) Differs by having leaves with three distinct, coarsely toothed lobes that may be further divided into as many as seven lobes; and pale yellow flowers with a purple base.

Venice mallow flower Venice Mallow Leaf Venice mallow plant
Venice mallow flower (left). Venice mallow leaf (middle). Venice mallow plant (right).

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