Practical
Plants

Malva meluca

an annual member of the Malva genus in the family Malvaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Malva
Life cycle
annual
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although we have seen no reports of toxicity for this species, when grown on nitrogen rich soils (and particularly when these are cultivated inorganically), the leaves of some species tend to concentrate high levels of nitrates in their leaves[8]. The leaves are perfectly wholesome at all other times.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked. A mild pleasant flavour. Seed - raw or cooked. Best used before it is fully mature, the seed has a pleasant nutty taste but it is rather small and fiddly to harvest[K].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre obtained from the stems is a jute substitute[6][7]. The seed contains up to 20% oil, it is used for making soap[7]. Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads[2].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
Southern S. America.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow early spring in situ. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[1], though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[3]. This species has been cultivated for the fibre contained in its stems[6][7]. This species is considered to be no more than a form of M. verticillata by some botanists[5]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[4]. Prone to infestation by rust fungus[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

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  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  4. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

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  5. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  6. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  7. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

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