Common Mallow (Malva neglecta)

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Malva neglecta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Malva
Species:	M. neglecta
Binomial name
Malva neglecta Wallr.
Synonyms[1]
List Malva fruticans Dorner ex Rchb. Malva orbiculata Pomel Malva prostrata Gilib. Malva rotundifolia var. crispa Wimm. & Grab. Malva rotundifolia var. grandior Wahlenb. Malva rotundifolia var. intermedia Ball Malva rotundifolia var. perennans Post Malva salvitellensis V.Brig. Malva vulgaris Fr.

Malva neglecta is a species of plant of the family Malvaceae, native to most of the Old World except sub-Saharan Africa. It is an annual growing to 0.6 m (2 ft). It is known as common mallow in the United States and also as buttonweed, cheeseplant, cheeseweed, dwarf mallow, and roundleaf mallow.^[2] This plant is often consumed as a food, with its leaves, stalks and seed all being considered edible.^[3][4][5] This is especially true of the seeds, which contain 21% protein and 15.2% fat.^[6]

Dwarf mallow is a prostrate, downy, herbaceous plant, growing to approximately 60 cm (24 in). The leaves are alternate with long, strongly channeled petioles, up to 12 cm (4.7 in), and narrowly triangular stipules. It is a broadleaf winter annual that also persists through a biennial or perennial life cycle if environmental conditions are favorable.^[7][8] Each leaf is reniform or with 5–7 shallow lobes, the basal leaves are 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in). It grows a tough taproot.^[9] The flowers are single-stalked and occur in clusters of 2–5 in the leaf axils. The flower stalks are shorter than the leaf stalks, with the leaves partially obscuring the flowers. The fruits are schizocarps, which split into 10–12 mericarps (nutlets) and are smooth and hairy.^[10][11]

After introduction into Canada, common mallow was found to be freezing tolerant, retaining the capacity for photosynthesis and respiration after long periods of exposure to subfreezing temperatures.^[12]

Malva neglecta exibits six age states: seedlings, juveniles, immatures, virginals, young generatives, and middle-aged generatives. Seedling leaf blades are pubescent below and along the edge. Juvenile plants have a solitary shoot and rounded leaves with wavy toothed edges. Immature plants show kidney-shaped leaves with jagged edges. Virginile plants present rosettes of 3-5 rounded heart-shaped leaves. Young generative plants develop solitary white or light pink flowers. Branching of the generative shoot is observed in Middle-aged plants.^[13] While young leaves and stems are green, mature leaves and lower stems vary from green to purple in color.^[14]

Native

Palearctic:

Macaronesia: Canary Islands

Northern Africa: Algeria, Morocco

Arabian Peninsula: Saudi Arabia

Western Asia: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Sinai, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Syria, Turkey

Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

Soviet Middle Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Mongolia: Mongolia

China: Xinjiang

Indian Subcontinent: India, Pakistan

Northern Europe: Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

Middle Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

Southeastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Sardinia, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania,

Southwestern Europe: France, Portugal, Spain

Source:^[15]

The plant has 1-Octacosanol, ^[16] Ascorbic (acid), Choline,^[16] alkaloids, and saponin (the plant has a certain antioxidant content)^[17] It has a high nitrate content, similar to that of arugula.^[18][19] The flowers contain tannins.

A common traditionally used medicinal plant, used for catarrh, enteritis, sore throat, hoarse voice, and as an expectorant.^[20] A lab study has shown that the plant is good for stomach ulcers^[21]

The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked and have a nutty flavor.^[18] Mature seeds can be cooked like rice or grains.^[22] In the past, seeds were ground into flour in times of need.^[23]

The root can be ground and used as a meringue substitute^[24] by boiling in water, simmering until thickened, and then whisked like egg whites.^[25]

Leaves are useful in salads, can be eaten raw, and contain Vitamin C, significant protein and mineral content.^[26] In culinary applications, it is cooked similar to spinach, or used for thickening soups, as the leaves release a thickening agent similar to okra which is also in the mallow family. In Jewish and Egyptian cooking, leaves are made into a stew called Mulukhiyah.

• 
  Plant spreads along ground, leaves not large, leaves fairly uniform size (Antalya)
• 
  Spreading on rocks, similarly (Edinburgh)
• 
  Flowers, fruits and leaves
• 
  Flowers, fruits and leaves, closer
• 
  Flowers can be pink with bold veins or may be pale
• 
  Paler form, hairs (visible) in centre at petal stalks
• 
  Flower much larger than calyx, green calyx with 5 broad parts, epicalyx at base formed of 3 narrow strips
• 
  Flowers may have long to very long stalks
• 
  Fruits
• 
  Fruits
• 
  Fruiting undersides, showing epicalyx of 3 narrow strips
• 
  Flowers and fruits from side showing the features above, stalks reasonably long
• 
  Hairs a mixture of stellate (star-like) and simple
• 
  Hairs a mixture of stellate (star-like) and simple
• 
  Leaf
• 
  Leaf underside
• 
  Leaf underside

• Media related to Malva neglecta at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Malva neglecta at Wikispecies
• UniProt. "Species Malva neglecta (Common mallow)". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "PLANTS Profile, Malva neglecta". The PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
• "Malva neglecta". Plants for a Future.
• "Malva neglecta". Calflora. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database.
• Malva neglecta in the CalPhotos photo database, University of California, Berkeley