Malva parviflora Linn.

Common Name : Little mallow
Family : Malvaceae

HABIT

AN ERECT, SPRAWLING OR DECUMBENT HERB GROWING UP TO 50 CM HIGH.

STEMS

COVERED WITH STIFF STAR-LIKE (STELLATE) HAIRS AND CAN BE ERECT OR ASCENDING (AT FIRST SPREADING HORIZONTALLY AND THEN BECOMING ERECT) AND RATHER FIBROUS.

LEAVES

CIRCULAR AND 8-10 CM IN DIAMETER. THE BASE OF THE LEAF IS CORDATE, MARGINS ARE CRENATE, SPARSELY PUBESCENT. THE LEAVES ARE PALMATELY VEINED WITH 5-7 SHORT TRIANGULAR LOBES. THE PETIOLE IS MOSTLY 1.5-12 CM LONG.

FLOWERS

WHITE OR PINK IN COLOR, AND TWISTED IN THE BUD.

FRUITS

SCHIZOCARP, 7-8 MM IN DIAMETER AND SEPARATES INTO 8-12, ONE SEEDED MERICARPS. THE SCHIZOCARP IS DISC-SHAPED SURROUNDED BY THE CALYX AND BROWN WHEN RIPE.

SEEDS

SUBCYLINDERIC, TRUNCATE AT APEX, REDDISH BROWN.