malva neglecta

Malva neglecta Wallroth

by Mayra Moreno, Native Plants of Arizona 2005

Common names: Common Mallow (1,2,7,9,14), Dwarf Mallow, Low Mallow, Malva, Cheese Plant, (7)

Family: Malvaceae (1, 2,7,9,14)

Synonymy:

Etymology: Latin, malva ae “mallows” Greek malache, maloche “mallows” Greek: malakos “soft” Akkadian malhu “plucked branch”, mallahtu “a plant” (10) Neglecta comes from the Latin neglectus, meaning neglected or not chosen-from nec (not) and lego (to choose or gather) (6).

Identification

Growth form: Mat growing (7). If soil is moist it can reach up to a foot (7).

Roots: Short, straight-taproot (4), light tan in color (7).

Stem: Prostrate or ascending at the tips (2). The leaf stems are usu. much longer than the leaves, and they grow out from all directions from main stem (7).

Leaves: Dark green, hairy, and crinkly. Shallowly lobed, and toothed around the edges. (2,3). One leaf at the node, alternate along the stem (2,13). The leaves are round, five to seven lobed and somewhat blunted palmate (7).

Inflorescence/flowers: Flowers in fascicles of 1-4 per leaf axil (13). Petals white with light pink striped with darker pink; 5 petals; cup shaped; numerous stamens (2,3,7,13)

Fruit: round, flattened fruit (resembling the wheels of cheese) with up to 15 segments (3,7).

Similar species: Similar to Malva parviflora L. and even found together but Malva neglecta has stems that are spreading or almost prostrate and petals are larger (9).

Ecology

Life history: Low growing (mat growing) (7). A cold-tolerate, winter/summer annual or biennial (2,4).

Native/introduced: Introduced from Europe, now naturalized (3).

Photosynthetic pathway:

Phenology: Blooms as early as April, sporadically until frost (2).

Distribution: Native to Eurasia and North Africa (13). Found in disturbed areas, waste ground, fields, lawns, roadsides/railroads (2). In Arizona it can be found from 100 to 8,500 feet in elevation, but it is more commonly found in the central and northern part of the state (9).

Uses

Commonly used as a demulcent or emollient (7). Stems and leaves can be made as a poultice to relive pain and inflammation (7). Tea is pleasant tasting, good for sore throats and tonsillitis(7). Traditionally drunk in New Mexico for facilitation of labor and as a wash for skin irritations in infants (7). The tea can also help indigestion, stomach sensitivity, and can be gargled for cough relief (8).

Entire plant has been boiled and eaten esp. used in soups; flowers are more pleasant in taste (2). Flowers are popularly eaten after being pickled (2). Leaves and young fruits have been used in salads (2).

Additional Notes

This plant is considered invasive by many authorities (5,11,12,14,15,16)

High levels of nitrate might be toxic to grazing cattle (2). It is a common territorial marker plant for dogs (7).

References

2. Duke, J. A. 1992. Handbook of Edible Weeds. CRC Press Inc. pg124-125

3. Epple, A. O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona. Falcon Publishing. Helena, Montana. pg151

4. Hagood, S. 2005. Virginia Tech. Weed Identification Guide. http://www.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm.

5. Haragan, P.D.. 1991. Weeds of Kentucky and Adjacent States: A Field Guide. The University Press of Kentucky. Lexington, Kentucky.. pg278.

6. Jaeger, E. C. 1944. A Source-book of Biological Names and Terms (2nd Ed.). Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

7. Moore, M. 1979 Medical Plants of the Mountain West. Museum of New Mexico Press. pg101

8. Moreno, D. N. October 29, 2005. Conversation with father, experienced herbalist by the Mexican Culture.

9. Parker, K. F. 1972. An illustration Guide to Arizona Weeds. The Arizona Board of Regents

10. Quattrocchi, U. 2000 CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, and Etymology. Vol. III m-q

11. Southern Weed Science Society. 1998. Weeds of the United States and Canada. CD-ROM. Southern Weed Science Society. Champaign, Illinois..

12. Stubbendieck, J., G.Y. Friisoe, & M.R. Bolick. 1994. Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains. Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. Lincoln, Nebraska.. pg589.

13. Tenaglia, D. 2005. (http://www.missouriplants.com/index.html) Pink Flowers. Missouri, USA

14. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

15. Uva, R.H., J.C. Neal, & J.M. DiTomaso. 1997. Weeds of the Northeast. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, New York.. pg397.

16. Whitson, T.D. (Ed.) et al.1996. Weeds of the West. Western Society of Weed Science in cooperation with Cooperative Extension Services, University of Wyoming. Laramie, Wyoming.pg630

*Malva neglecta Wallroth* by Mayra Moreno, Native Plants of Arizona 2005 Common names: Common Mallow (1,2,7,9,14), Dwarf Mallow, Low Mallow, Malva, Cheese Plant, (7) Family: Malvaceae (1, 2,7,9,14) Synonymy: Etymology: Latin, malva ae “mallows” Greek malache, maloche “mallows” Greek: malakos “soft” Akkadian malhu “plucked branch”, mallahtu “a plant” (10) Neglecta comes from the Latin neglectus, meaning neglected or not chosen-from nec (not) and lego (to choose or gather) (6). Identification Growth form: Mat growing (7). If soil is moist it can reach up to a foot (7). Roots: Short, straight-taproot (4), light tan in color (7). Stem: Prostrate or ascending at the tips (2). The leaf stems are usu. much longer than the leaves, and they grow out from all directions from main stem (7). Leaves: Dark green, hairy, and crinkly. Shallowly lobed, and toothed around the edges. (2,3). One leaf at the node, alternate along the stem (2,13). The leaves are round, five to seven lobed and somewhat blunted palmate (7). Inflorescence/flowers: Flowers in fascicles of 1-4 per leaf axil (13). Petals white with light pink striped with darker pink; 5 petals; cup shaped; numerous stamens (2,3,7,13) Fruit: round, flattened fruit (resembling the wheels of cheese) with up to 15 segments (3,7). Similar species: Similar to Malva parviflora L. and even found together but Malva neglecta has stems that are spreading or almost prostrate and petals are larger (9). Ecology Life history: Low growing (mat growing) (7). A cold-tolerate, winter/summer annual or biennial (2,4). Native/introduced: Introduced from Europe, now naturalized (3). Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Blooms as early as April, sporadically until frost (2). Distribution: Native to Eurasia and North Africa (13). Found in disturbed areas, waste ground, fields, lawns, roadsides/railroads (2). In Arizona it can be found from 100 to 8,500 feet in elevation, but it is more commonly found in the central and northern part of the state (9). Uses Commonly used as a demulcent or emollient (7). Stems and leaves can be made as a poultice to relive pain and inflammation (7). Tea is pleasant tasting, good for sore throats and tonsillitis(7). Traditionally drunk in New Mexico for facilitation of labor and as a wash for skin irritations in infants (7). The tea can also help indigestion, stomach sensitivity, and can be gargled for cough relief (8). Entire plant has been boiled and eaten esp. used in soups; flowers are more pleasant in taste (2). Flowers are popularly eaten after being pickled (2). Leaves and young fruits have been used in salads (2). Additional Notes This plant is considered invasive by many authorities (5,11,12,14,15,16) High levels of nitrate might be toxic to grazing cattle (2). It is a common territorial marker plant for dogs (7). References 1. Coffey T. ©1993. The History and Folklore of North American Wildflowers. Houghton Mifflin Company paperback 1994. pg1 2. Duke, J. A. 1992. Handbook of Edible Weeds. CRC Press Inc. pg124-125 3. Epple, A. O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona. Falcon Publishing. Helena, Montana. pg151 4. Hagood, S. 2005. Virginia Tech. Weed Identification Guide. http://www.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm. 5. Haragan, P.D.. 1991. Weeds of Kentucky and Adjacent States: A Field Guide. The University Press of Kentucky. Lexington, Kentucky.. pg278. 6. Jaeger, E. C. 1944. A Source-book of Biological Names and Terms (2nd Ed.). Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL. 7. Moore, M. 1979 Medical Plants of the Mountain West. Museum of New Mexico Press. pg101 8. Moreno, D. N. October 29, 2005. Conversation with father, experienced herbalist by the Mexican Culture. 9. Parker, K. F. 1972. An illustration Guide to Arizona Weeds. The Arizona Board of Regents 10. Quattrocchi, U. 2000 CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, and Etymology. Vol. III m-q 11. Southern Weed Science Society. 1998. Weeds of the United States and Canada. CD-ROM. Southern Weed Science Society. Champaign, Illinois.. 12. Stubbendieck, J., G.Y. Friisoe, & M.R. Bolick. 1994. Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains. Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. Lincoln, Nebraska.. pg589. 13. Tenaglia, D. 2005. (http://www.missouriplants.com/index.html) Pink Flowers. Missouri, USA 14. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. 15. Uva, R.H., J.C. Neal, & J.M. DiTomaso. 1997. Weeds of the Northeast. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, New York.. pg397. 16. Whitson, T.D. (Ed.) et al.1996. Weeds of the West. Western Society of Weed Science in cooperation with Cooperative Extension Services, University of Wyoming. Laramie, Wyoming.pg630