Malva sylvestris

"Notes: Western Ghats, Higher elevation, Naturalized, also Cultivated, Native of Eurasia"

High Mallow is one of several Malva spp. that have been introduced from Europe. Some of these are attractive horticultural plants, while others are common weeds. High Mallow belongs to the former. It can be distinguished from other mallows by its large reddish-purple flowers (with obcordate petals) and shallowly to moderately lobed leaves. Other large mallows in Illinois usually have deeply divided leaves and white to rosy pink flowers. Another introduced species, Alcea rosea (Hollyhock) sometimes has similarly colored flowers, but it is a taller plant (up to 6-8') with larger flowers (3" across or more) and the petals of its flowers are more overlapping.

This introduced plant is a biennial about 2–3½' tall that is either unbranched or sparingly so. The stout central stem is medium green, terete, and hairy. The alternate leaves are up to 5" long and 5" across; they are orbicular or reniform-orbicular in outline, divided into 5-7 shallow to moderate lobes, dentate along their margins, and palmately veined. For the typical variety of High Mallow, the lobes of the leaves are pointed, while for var. mauritiana they are rounded. The upper surfaces of the leaves are medium to dark green and mostly hairless. The petioles are up to 6" long. The flowers occur in clusters from the leaf axils along the upper half of each plant. These flowers are about 2" across, consisting of 5 petals, a short calyx with 5 ovate teeth, and a column of reproductive organs in the center. The obcordate petals are reddish purple with dark purple veins. The calyx is green and hairy; it is much shorter than the petals. Directly underneath the calyx, there are 3 small bracts that are lanceolate-ovate to ovate in shape. The styles emerge from the apex of the reproductive column, while the stamens with white anthers develop below. The pedicels of the flowers are up to 2" long. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 2 months. After the blooming period, each flower is replaced by a fruit called a schizocarp in which the seed-containing carpels are arranged in a ring. For High Mallow, there are about 10 carpels per schizocarp. The carpels are reniform and flattened in shape with exterior sides that are reticulate and rough-textured; the carpels are hairless or only slightly pubescent. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.

sylvestris: of woods or forests

"Maharashtra: Satara Karnataka: Mysore Tamil Nadu: Dindigul, Nilgiri"

This introduced plant has naturalized in widely scattered locations throughout the state, although it rarely persists. Habitats include such disturbed areas as roadsides, vacant lots, edges of yards, and vacant lots. High Mallow was introduced from Europe as a horticultural plant. It is still cultivated occasionally in gardens.

Nile and Mediterranean regions, Sinai.

Europe, Mediterranean region, Asia; naturalized in some other temperate regions.

Malva sylvestris subsp. mauritiana (L.) Boiss.:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Malva sylvestris var. mauritiana (L.) Boiss.:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Malva sylvestris L.:
Canada (North America)
Ecuador (South America)
Guatemala (Mesoamerica)
Honduras (Mesoamerica)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
United States (North America)
South Africa (Africa & Madagascar)
Colombia (South America)
Venezuela (South America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Distribution: W. Europe, N.Africa and Asia.

Europe, N. Africa, Himalaya, N. Asia, often cultivated.

Usually biennial, up to 1.25 m tall, pubescent to glabrescent herbs. Leaves 2-4 cm long, 2-5 cm broad, 3-lobed, truncate to broadly cordate at; stipule lanceolate, scarious, c. 5 mm long, 1.5 mm broad; petiole 2-6 cm ,pilose. Flowers axillary (1-) 2-4 in fascicles; pedicel c. 2 cm long. Epicalyx segments ovate, 2-3 mm long, 1.5 mm broad. Calyx free to the middle, 3-6 mm long, glabrescent; lobes broadly triangular, 2-3 mm broad. Petals pink-purple cm long, c.1 cm broad, obovate, emarginate, claw ciliate. Staminal c. 3 mm long, stellate pubescent. Fruit glabrous, 5-6 mm across, mericarps 10-12, reticulate. Seeds brown, c. 2.5 mm long and broad.

2400 m

This introduced plant has naturalized in widely scattered locations throughout the state, although it rarely persists. Habitats include such disturbed areas as roadsides, vacant lots, edges of yards, and vacant lots. High Mallow was introduced from Europe as a horticultural plant. It is still cultivated occasionally in gardens.

Primarily bees cross-pollinate the flowers, where they seek nectar or pollen. For High Mallow, Müller (1873/1883) observed such bee visitors as honeybees, bumblebees, Cuckoo bees, Leaf-Cutting bees, Andrenid bees, and Halictid bees. Mallows (Malva spp.) are food plants for the caterpillars of Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady), Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak), Pyrgus communis (Checkered Skipper), and Anomis erosa (Yellow Scallop Moth). Other insects that feed on mallows include Aphis gossypii (Cotton Aphid), Anuraphis helichrysi (Leafcurl Plum Aphid), and the major pest Popillia japonica (Japanese Beetle).

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion aeneum feeds within stem of Malva sylvestris
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion malvae feeds within fruit of Malva sylvestris
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion radiolus feeds within stem of Malva sylvestris
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion rufirostre feeds within fruit of Malva sylvestris

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / spot causer
scattered pycnidium of Ascochyta coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta malvicola causes spots on live leaf of Malva sylvestris
Remarks: season: 9

Foodplant / feeds on
Lixus angustatus feeds on stem of Malva sylvestris

Foodplant / feeds on
gregarious, covered by blackened epidermis, finally erumpent by a slit pycnidium of Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Phomopsis malvacearum feeds on stem of Malva sylvestris

Foodplant / gall
imago of Podagrica fuscicornis causes gall of leaf of Malva sylvestris

Foodplant / gall
imago of Podagrica fuscipes causes gall of leaf of Malva sylvestris

Foodplant / gall
pulvinate telium of Puccinia malvacearum causes gall of live stem of Malva sylvestris
Remarks: season: 4-11

Foodplant / spot causer
few, mainly epiphyllous, tawny brown then black pycnidium of Septoria coelomycetous anamorph of Septoria heterochroa causes spots on leaf of Malva sylvestris

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 7
Specimens with Barcodes: 14
Species With Barcodes: 1

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked

High Mallow adapts readily to partial or dappled sunlight, mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. It is not aggressive.