Malva thuringiaca (L.) Vis.

Nomenclature

Malva thuringiaca (L.) Vis., previously classified as Lavatera thuringiaca, is commonly called the garden tree-mallow. It is a flowering plant species belonging to the mallow family, Malvaceae.

Native Distribution

This species is native to eastern Europe and southwestern Asia, ranging from southern Germany south to Italy, and east to southern Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.

Growth Form

It is a herbaceous perennial that grows to a height of 1.8 meters.

Leaf Characteristics

Its leaves reach up to 9 cm in both length and breadth, are palmately divided into three or five lobes, and are covered in downy greyish hairs.

Flower Characteristics

The flowers are pink, measure 3–6 cm across, have five petals, and bloom continuously throughout the summer.

Subspecies Recognition

Two subspecies of Malva thuringiaca are recognized.

Malva thuringiaca subsp. thuringiaca

Malva thuringiaca subsp. thuringiaca occurs across most of the species' full range (excluding the area occupied by the second subspecies), and has bluntly lobed upper leaves.

Malva thuringiaca subsp. ambigua

Malva thuringiaca subsp. ambigua (DC.) Valdés is found in southern France, Italy, and the western Balkans, and has acutely lobed upper leaves.