MALVA sylvestris Mallow, Common Mallow, Blue Mallow, High Mallow ____________________________________ Type: Perennial Height: 2-4' (60-120cm) Flowering Time: Summer Flower Colour: Mauve, purple ____________________________________ Botanical Classification: Class: Angiospermae (Angiosperms) Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons) Superorder: Dilleniidae (Dillenia Superorder) Order: Malvales (Mallow Order) Family: Malvaceae (Mallow Family) Genus: Malva (Mallow) Species: sylvestris (of woods) ____________________________________

Malva sylvestris is a British wildflower that is happy in many different situations. In open places, including cliff tops, it can form almost a bush, or scramble through hedges and other plants to a height of several feet. It has hairy stems and large lobed leaves, with mauve, five-petalled flowers with deeper lines on in the leaf axils. There are garden hybrids that are less rampant, with more rounded flowers in various shades of mauve with deeper markings and sometimes a darker eye.

Malva sylvestris has been used in traditional herbal medicine since Roman times, to treat kidney, bronchial and skin problems. The young leaves and shoots and unripe seed pods can all be eaten in salads or as a vegetable.

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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

				Germination: Spring Inside (4 days)
Seed Pod There is no seed pod. The seeds are held inside the folded calyx. Seed The seeds are dark brown ribbed discs with a notch. There are many seeds on each seedhead. Seedling The seedleaves are rounded, and the first true leaves are lobed.