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alkali-mallow, mallow

Habit Herbs, perennial.
Stems

prostrate, with stellate and lepidote pubescence, not viscid.

Leaves

alternate and distichous;

stipules persistent, subulate, 3–5 mm;

blade asymmetric basally, [± flabellate], reniform, or ovate to triangular, not dissected or parted, base asymmetric, margins dentate, serrate, or entire, surfaces stellate or lepidote.

Inflorescences

axillary solitary flowers;

involucel present or absent, bractlets 0–3, persistent or caducous, distinct.

Flowers

calyx not accrescent, not inflated, lobes unribbed, ovate or cordate, stellate or lepidote;

corolla whitish or pale yellow, sometimes with pink flush or fading pale rose;

staminal column included;

style 7–10-branched;

stigmas capitate.

Fruits

schizocarps, erect, not inflated, oblate, not indurate, minutely hairy;

mericarps 7–10, 1-celled, dorsally rounded, essentially unornamented, lateral walls persistent, essentially indehiscent.

Seeds

1 per mericarp, glabrous.

x

= probably 16.

Malvella

Distribution
from USDA
United States; Mexico; South America (Peru to Uruguay); Europe; Asia (Asia Minor)
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Species 4 (3 in the flora).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Leaf blades wider than long, ± reniform, apex obtuse or subacute, indument predominantly stellate; involucellar bractlets usually 3, sometimes 0; calyx lobes ovate, bases not overlapping.
M. leprosa
1. Leaf blades longer than wide, ovate to triangular, apex acute, indument ± silvery-lepidote; involucellar bractlets usually 0, rarely present; calyx lobes ± cordate, bases plicate-overlapping
→ 2
2. Leaf blades ± triangular, length 1–2(–3) times width, margins irregularly dentate, surfaces often with at least some stellate hairs mixed with silvery scales.
M. lepidota
2. Leaf blades narrowly triangular, length 3–5(–6) times width, margins hastate-toothed at base, surfaces silvery-lepidote.
M. sagittifolia
Source FNA vol. 6, p. 301. Authors: Paul A. Fryxell†, Steven R. Hill.
Parent taxa Malvaceae > subfam. Malvoideae
Subordinate taxa
M. lepidota, M. leprosa, M. sagittifolia
Synonyms Disella
Name authority Jaubert & Spach: Ill. Pl. Orient. 5: 47, plate 444. (1855)
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