Malva parviflora
| Malva parviflora | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Malva |
| Species: | M. parviflora
|
| Binomial name | |
| Malva parviflora | |
Malva parviflora is an annual or perennial herb that is native to Northern Africa, Europe and Asia and is widely naturalised elsewhere.[1] Common names include cheeseweed,[1] cheeseweed mallow, Egyptian mallow,[1] least mallow,[2] little mallow,[1] mallow,[3] marshmallow,[3] small-flowered mallow,[4] small-flowered marshmallow[5] and smallflower mallow.[3] It typically grows on agricultural lands and in disturbed sites such as roadsides. [6]
M. parviflora leaf extracts possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.[7] Under some conditions, the plant's leaves and seeds can be toxic to cattle and poultry due to an accumulation of nitrates.[6]
It has a decumbent or erect habit, growing up to 50-80 cm in height.[4][6] The broad leaves have 5 to 7 shallow lobes and are 8 to 10 cm in diameter.[4] The lobe edges are round toothed, with varying hairiness.[6] It has small white or pink flowers year-round at the base of leaf stalks; flowers have 4 to 10 mm long petals.[4][6] The 2 mm seeds are reddish-brown and kidney-shaped.[6]
Newly sprouted plants have hairless, heart-shaped cotyledons with long stalks. These cotyledons are 3-12 mm long and 3-8 mm wide. Stalks usually do have hairs. The first leaf is rounder and larger than the others. True leaves are round and weakly lobed with wavy, shallow-toothed edges and a red spot at the leaf base. The plant rapidly grows a deep taproot.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d "Malva parviflora". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ a b c "Malva parviflora". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b c d "New South Wales Flora Online: Malva parviflora". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
- ^ "Malva parviflora L." Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Little mallow (cheeseweed)". UC IPM. Regents of the University of California. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Bouriche H, Meziti H, Senator A, Arnhold J"Anti-inflammatory, free radical-scavenging, and metal-chelating activities of Malva parviflora." Pharm Biol. 2011 May 19;
External links
Media related to Malva parviflora at Wikimedia Commons- "Malva parviflora". Neotropical Herbarium Specimens. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- GBIF: Occurrence data for Malva parviflora
- Jepson Manual Treatment
- USDA Plants Profile
- Malva parviflora in the CalPhotos photo database, University of California, Berkeley
- "Malva parviflora". Calflora. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database.
- "Malva parviflora". Plants for a Future.
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