Malva sylvestris L.

Perennial, ascending to erect herb. Stems glabrous to densely hairy with simple and stellate hairs. Lvs ± glabrous to densely hairy, reniform to suborbicular, obtuse to cordate at base, shallowly or moderately 3–5–(7)-palmately lobed and crenate, 1–15–(20) cm diam.; petioles 1–15–(30) cm long; stipules narrowly to broadly ovate with acute apex, 3–10 mm long. Fls 2–10 in axillary clusters or irregular racemes; fruiting pedicels 10–45 mm long; epicalyx segments narrow-oblong to elliptic-ovate, somewhat < calyx; calyx teeth broadly ovate with acute apex, sparsely to densely hairy with stellate or simple hairs and ciliate, not enlarged at fruiting; petals from deep pink to reddish or bluish purple with darker markings, 2–5× as long as calyx, 12–30 mm long. Mericarps 8–12–(15) per fr., usually glabrous, strongly reticulately veined on back; edges sharply angled but not winged.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Apr.