Common Mallow

(Malva neglecta Wallr.)

Malvaceae (Mallow Family)

▲ mature plant

▲ flower

 

Common Mallow: 

·        An annual or biennial weed, low-growing and spreading

·        Leaves roundish, pubescent (like miniature geranium leaves) on long petioles

·        Main stem fairly thick

·        Flowers white to lavender, about ½ “ across in leaf axils

·        Mainly a lawn, garden & roadside weed

·         Similar species -  roundleaf mallow:

o   Has similar leaves and growth habit to common mallow, but flowers  have shorter petals (less than 2x the length of the sepals) and fruit is smoother and rounder in shape than common mallow

o  Little Mallow is also very similar leaves to roundleaf mallow, but has slightly different fruit (shorter wings, and ridges on back side)