Malva verticillata

Malva verticillata
Illustration of the leaves and seeds of M. verticillata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Malvoideae
Genus: Malva
Species: M. verticillata
Binomial name
Malva verticillata
L.

Malva verticillata, also known as the Chinese mallow[1] or cluster mallow,[2] is a species of the mallow genus Malva in the family of Malvaceae found in East Asia. M. verticillata is an annual or biennial that grow up to 1.7 meters in high and can inhabit woodland areas of different soil types. In temperate climates, it flowers from July to September and the seeds from August to October. The flowers of the plant are self-fertile but can also be pollinated by insects.[3]

The plant was an important leaf vegetable in pre-Han Dynasty China and widely cultivated.[4] Mallow is mentioned in Huangdi Neijing as one of the five consumable herbs (五菜) which included mallow (葵), pea leaves (藿), Allium macrostemon (薤), Welsh onion (蔥) and Garlic chives (韭). [5]

M. verticillata flower 
M. verticillata leaves 
M. verticillata aerial portions 

References

  1. ↑ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. ↑ "Malva verticillata". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  3. ↑ Malva verticillata - L., Plants For A Future,
  4. ↑ Anderson, Eugene N. (1988), The Food of China, Yale University Press
  5. ↑ 古代五菜, 2010-03-04
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