About Malva moschata L.
Malva moschata L. is a perennial herb that reaches up to 60 centimetres (24 inches) in height. All of its stems and foliage are covered in hairs. Its leaves grow in an alternate arrangement, and are 2–8 centimetres (3⁄4–3+1⁄4 inches) in both length and width. The leaves are palmately lobed, with between five and seven lobes total. Basal leaves have very shallow lobing, while leaves growing higher on the stem are more deeply divided, with narrow, pointed acuminate lobes. The plant blooms in summer, with flowers that emerge in clusters from leaf axils. Each flower measures 3.2–5 centimetres (1+1⁄4–2 inches) in diameter, and has five bright pink petals with a truncated to notched apex. The flowers have a distinct musky scent. The fruit of Malva moschata L. is a disc-shaped schizocarp 3–6 millimetres (1⁄8–1⁄4 inch) in diameter. It holds 10–16 seeds, with each seed individually enclosed in a hair-covered mericarp that has whitish hairs. This species has a chromosome count of 2n=42. This species is native to Europe and southwestern Asia; its native range extends from Spain north to the British Isles and Poland, and east to southern Russia and Turkey. It has been introduced to and naturalized in many temperate regions outside its native range, including Scandinavia, New Zealand, and North America. Malva moschata L. grows on dry, fertile soils at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,500 metres (4,900 feet). Occasional natural hybrids between this species and its close relative Malva alcea have been recorded. Bees are the most common pollinators of this plant's flowers. Malva moschata L. is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, valued for its attractive, scented flowers that bloom over a long period through the summer. Multiple cultivars have been selected for varied flower colours, including 'Rosea', which produces dark pink flowers. Its leaves and flowers can be added to salads, and its seeds are also edible.
