common mallow plant

Common mallow – Malva neglecta

Malva neglecta Wallr.

Malvaceae (Mallow family)

MI Status

Non-native

Life cycle

Spreading annual or biennial.

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.

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, rounded seed with a notch.

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.

Common mallow seedling
Common mallow seedling
Common mallow plant
Common mallow plant
Common mallow flower
Common mallow flower
Common mallow fruit
Common mallow fruit

Accessibility Questions:

For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.