Greater Musk-mallow - Malva alcea
Favourite Photos
| image | species | author | location | uploaded | taken | select |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Greater Musk-mallow - Malva alcea | dylan | Bristol | 18 Jan 2025, 2:49 p.m. | 2 Aug 2024, 6:52 p.m. |
Species Description
Sometimes used in ornamental flower mixes; occasionally becoming naturalised on roadsides, rough grassland, wasteland etc. Other names include: Cut-leaved Mallow, Vervain Mallow, Hollyhock Mallow.
Stace 4:
Malva alcea L. - Greater Musk-mallow.
Perennial with erect or spreading stems to 1.2m; similar to M. moschata but with only stellate hairs on upper parts; nutlets glabrous or hairy; and Epicalyx-segments >1.5mm wide; (2n=84). Neophyte-naturalised; grassy and waste places; Central & South Britain, rare North to North Scotland; Europe.
Key:
- Epicalyx of 3 segments
- Epicalyx segments free to base
- Nutlets smooth or faintly reticulate on dorsal surface
- Petals bright pink (or white), >16mm, ≥3x as long as sepals; upper leaves usually very deeply divided
- Epicalyx-segments >1.5mm wide, <3x as long as wide; epicalyx and pedicels with only stellate hairs