Malva sylvestris L.

Spice Flower In the field

Family: MALVACEAE

Genus: Malva

Catalan common name: Malva. Vauma.

Spanish common name: Malva silvestre.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Path and road sides, disturbed zones.

Characteristics: This mallow can be told apart from Lavatera cretica, which lives in the same habitats, by the calycine, which is small and straight instead of wide and triangular; additionally, the colour of the petals is violet red, while Lavatera cretica is a clear lilac in colour.