Malva neglecta (common mallow)

Malva neglecta leaves

Leaf type: Kidney-shaped, rounded, lobed (with up to seven rounded lobes)
Leaf margin: Slightly toothed
Phyllotaxis: Alternate
Colour: Green
Life cycle: Annual to biennial

Leaf (upper side)

leaves Malva neglecta
The leaves of Malva neglecta are rounded to kidney-shaped, sometimes heart-shaped, with up to seven lobes.
Pyrrhocoris apterus on Malva neglecta leaves
The firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) is primarily associated with plants of the mallow family (Malvaceae). It feeds by sucking sap from their leaves, shoots, and unripe fruits.

Growth habit & biology

Malva neglecta habitus
Upright growth habit of Malva neglecta.

Malva neglecta is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant. Its stems grow either prostrate or upright and can reach up to 40 centimetres in length.

Young leaves may be rounded or heart shaped, while older leaves are usually kidney shaped and lobed.

All parts of the plant are considered edible.

growth habit Malva neglecta
Prostrate growth habit of Malva neglecta.
Malva neglecta young plant
Growth habit of a young plant with rounded, heart shaped, and only slightly lobed leaves.

Distribution & habitates

Malva neglecta wayside
Malva neglecta by the wayside.

The native distribution range extends across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. As an introduced species, Malva neglecta occurs in North America, South America, and other regions (source).

Habitats colonized by this species include meadows, dry grasslands, roadsides, embankments, and ditches.

Malva neglecta in grassland
Malva neglecta growing in dry grassland.

Botany

This member of the mallow family (Malvaceae) is known by the common names common mallow, dwarf mallow, roundleaf mallow, buttonweed, cheeseplant, and cheeseweed.

dwarf mallow common mallow