Plant
Common Mallow
Malva sylvestrisAlso known as High Mallow, Wood Mallow
Common Mallow is an upright or spreading herb with rounded lobed leaves and five pink-purple petals marked by darker radiating veins. Its developing seed segments form a flat circular disk resembling a tiny wheel of cheese.
Roadside WildflowerVeined PetalsDisk-shaped Seed Head
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyA branching taproot supplies moisture and minerals to leaves that convert sunlight into stored sugars
Predators
- Painted Lady caterpillars
- Mallow weevils
- Slugs
ThreatsHerbicide use, repeated mowing, intensive cultivation, trampling, drought, and competition from dense vegetation
HabitatsRoadsides, field margins, disturbed meadows, waste ground, gardens, banks, and open sunny soil
Life spanDepending on climate, grows as an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial
Classification
- OrderMalvales
- FamilyMalvaceae
- GenusMalva
- SpeciesMalva sylvestris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Mallow seed heads resemble food but have confusing look-alikes; do not eat wild material based on app identification.
Responsible observation
- Petals: Look for five notched pink petals crossed by darker purple veins.
- Leaves: Note rounded palmately lobed leaves on softly hairy stems.
- Seeds: View the wheel-shaped seed head without collecting or tasting it.
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