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. |