About Malva multiflora (Cav.) Soldano, Banfi & Galasso
Malva multiflora, previously classified as Lavatera cretica, is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family. It has the common names Cornish mallow and Cretan hollyhock. This species is native to western Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean Basin. It has become naturalized in other regions that have a Mediterranean climate, including parts of Australia, South Africa, and California. Malva multiflora is an annual or biennial herb. It produces a tough, somewhat hairy stem that reaches a maximum height of between 1 and 3 meters. Its leaves are slightly hairy, multilobed with flat or wavy edges, and can grow up to 10 centimeters long. The plant bears small pink or light purple flowers, with petals that measure just over one centimeter long. Its fruit is disc-shaped and made up of 7 to 10 segments. The leaf blades of Malva multiflora can track the solar position throughout the day and turn to face the sunrise. This behavior lets the plant anticipate future conditions, even though it has no central nervous system.
