Malva
(the old Latin name for a Mallow, used by Pliny and Virgil, altered from the Greek Malachi, a Mallow, which is probably derived from malacho, to soften; referring to its emollient qualities). Mallow. ORD. Malvaceae. This genus comprises about sixteen species of mostly hardy, annual, biennial, or perennial, hirsute or glabrous herbs, indigenous to South Europe, temperate Asia, and Northern Africa. Flowers axillary, solitary or fasciculate, sessile or pedunculate, or rarely in terminal racemes; petals purplish-rose or white, never yellow, emarginate, very rarely denticulate. Leaves often angulate, lobed or dissected. Few of the species are worth growing, the plants being generally of a coarse and weedy growth. The exceptions are of easy culture in any moderately good garden soil. The perennial species may be increased by seeds, or by cuttings; and the annuals by seeds only. M. Alcea (Alcea). fl. pale rosy-purple, about 2in. across, in terminal and axillary clusters. Summer. l. palmate, with incised divisions, light green, downy. h. 4ft. Europe, &c., 1797. Perennial. (B. M. 2197.) M. A. fastigiata (fastigiate).* fl. red. July to October. l., lower ones five-lobed, upper ones palmately five-cleft, with the lobes toothed. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Italy, 1820. Perennial. SYN. M. Morenii (B. M. 2793.). M. Creeana (Cree's). A synonym of Malvastrum coccineum grossulariaefolium. M. crispa (curled). fl. white, pale purple at the tip, axillary, sessile or nearly so. June. l. angular, toothed, curled, glabrous. Stem erect. h. 2ft. to 6ft. 1573. Annual. Perhaps a native of China; it occurs in many countries in a naturalised state.
M. involucrata (involucrate). A synonym of Callirhoe involucrata. M. lateritia (brick-coloured). A synonym of Malvastrum lateritium. M. mauritiana (Mediterranean). fl. deep purple; pedicels axillary, numerous, one-flowered. June. l. five-lobed, obtuse. Stem erect. h. 4ft. to 6ft. South Europe, 1768. Annual. (S. F. G. 81.) M. Morenii (Moreni's). A synonym of M. Alcea fastigiata. M. moschata (musk).* Musk Mallow. fl. rose, about 2in. across, disposed in terminal and axillary clusters. Summer. l., lower ones kidney-shaped, cut; upper ones with five deeply pinnatifid, jagged segments. h. 2ft. to 2 1/2ft. Europe (Britain). A handsome perennial, of which there is a form with pure white flowers. (B. M. 2298.) M. Munroana (Munro's). A synonym of Malvastrum Munroanum.