Description: Annual, biennial or perennial herbs, with creeping, ascending or erect stems.
Leaves palmately veined, 5–7-lobed, margins crenate; petiole long, slender; stipules ovate.
Flowers axillary, solitary or clustered, often forming an irregular raceme. Epicalyx segments 3, free, inserted towards base of calyx. Calyx 5-lobed, united at base. Petals emarginate. Carpels 8–12, each 1-ovulate.
Fruit a disc-shaped schizocarp, indehiscent.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 40 species, Africa, Europe, Asia, northern temperate America. Australia: at least 5 species (naturalized), all States.
The collection from the Central Coast in the 1960's is from the saleyards at Flemmington and therefore introduced.
Text by A. S. Mitchell & E. H. Norris; Key Updated L. Murray (Aug 2018)
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Epicalyx segments fused at base, ovate to lanceolate | 2 |
| Epicalyx segments free, linear | 4 |
| 2 | Epicalyx segments exceeding the calyx; biennial, woody at the base | Malva arborea |
| Epicalyx not exceeding the calyx; coarse herbaceous annuals, biennials or perennials
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Corolla 20 mm long or longer | Malva preissiana |
| Corolla less than 18 mm long
Back to 2 | Malva pseudolavatera |
| 4 | Corolla more than twice as long as calyx; hairs simple or forked | 5 |
| Corolla c. as long as calyx; hairs stellate or forked
Back to 1 | 7 |
| 5 | Petals more than 15 mm long | Malva sylvestris |
| Petals less than 15 mm long
Back to 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Epicalyx segments ovate, attached near middle of calyx; petals bluish lilac | Malva nicaeensis |
| Epicalyx segments linear, attached near base of calyx; petals white, pale pink to pinkish lilac
Back to 5 | Malva neglecta |
| 7 | Flowers more or less sessile; biennial or perennial plant; calyx expanded in fruit | Malva verticillata |
| Flowers mostly on peduncles more than 3 mm long; annual plant; calyx more or less enclosing fruit (occasionally slightly expanded)
Back to 4 | Malva parviflora |
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