Lavatera cretica L.

Spice Flower Flower 2

Family: MALVACEAE

Genus: Lavatera

Catalan common name: Malva. Malva cretica.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte. Nanophanerophyte.

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

Characteristics: This is probably the most frequent Malvaceae in the Balearics; we will find it in any grassland, along path-sides, in humanised places. The flowers are very pale pink, with darker veins; the petals are deeply lobulate. It can be mistaken for Malva sylvestris, but the latter has a bright pink corolla, and the calycle is made up of small, narrow pieces, whereas in Lavatera cretica they are wide, triangular and joined together. Flowers since winter to spring.