Malva arborea (L.) Webb & Berthel.

Stout biennial up to 2–(3) m high, usually with a single main stem. Stems moderately to densely clothed in stellate hairs when young, becoming ± glabrous and woody at base when older. Lvs densely clothed in stellate hairs, velvety to touch, suborbicular, cordate at base, shortly 5–7-palmately lobed and crenulate, up to 20 cm diam., rarely variegated; petioles 3–30 cm long; stipules narrow- to ovate-triangular, 4–8 mm long. Fls in axillary and terminal clusters of 2–7–(10) or rarely in irregular racemes; fruiting pedicels 5–20–(30) mm long; epicalyx segments broadly ovate to suborbicular, united for lower ?-1/2, > calyx, distinctly enlarged and spreading at fruiting; calyx shallowly campanulate; calyx teeth ± = tube, triangular, acute to acuminate, densely clothed in stellate hairs, usually ± connivent at fruiting; petals lilac or deep pink with purple or red veins and base, 15–20 mm long. Mericarps 6–8–(9) per fr., usually glabrous, sometimes densely clothed in fine hairs, finely transversely ribbed on back; edges sharply angled.

[From: Webb et al. (1985) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4 as Lavatera arborea L.]