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Malva alcea

a perennial member of the Malva genus in the family Malvaceae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Malva alcea has 0 edible uses listed
Malva alcea has 0 material uses listed
Malva alcea has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

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[1]. The leaves are perfectly wholesome at all other times.

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[2]. A mild pleasant flavour[K]. The leaves are mucilaginous and fairly bland, this is a very good perennial substitute for lettuce in a salad, producing fresh leaves from spring until the middle of summer, or until the autumn from self-sown plants[K].

Flowers - raw[K]. A very decorative addition to the salad bowl, they have a mild flavour and a texture similar to the leaves[K].

Seed - raw[2]. Best used before it is fully mature, the seed has a pleasant nutty taste but it is rather small and fiddly to harvest[K].

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Oil

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

A fibre obtained from the stem is used for making cordage[2].

Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads[3].

The seed yields 15% oil[2]. The uses of this oil have not been given though it is almost certainly edible[K].

Unknown part

Dye
Fibre
Oil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves are demulcent. They are also used as a mouthwash for inflammatory and catarrhal conditions[2].

Unknown part

Demulcent
Mouthwash

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in early spring in a cold frame. The seed germinates quickly and easily. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in their permanent positions in the early summer[K].

If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown outdoors in situ in the middle to late spring.

Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Malva alcea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[4], though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[5].

A very ornamental and polymorphic plant[4][6]. It tends to be quite short-lived in cultivation but usually self-sows when well-sited[233, K]. It is closely related to M. excisa[2]. If the plant is cut back to the ground as it comes into flower, then it will produce a fresh flush of leaves for salads[K]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[7] and are seldom bothered by slugs[K].

Plants are prone to infestation by rust fungus[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Malva alcea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Malva alcea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Malva alcea
Genus
Malva
Family
Malvaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2]
Medicinal uses
[2]
Material uses & Functions
[2][3]
Botanic
[2][5]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1.2 x 0.75 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.



    "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.82.9 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    6. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)
    7. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)

    "image:Malva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Malva_alcea&oldid=78596"
    Facts about "Malva alcea"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyMalvaceae +
    Belongs to genusMalva +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers +, Leaves +, Unknown part + and Seeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Oil +
    Has fertility typeInsects +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageMalva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye +, Fibre + and Oil +
    Has mature height1.2 +
    Has mature width0.75 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useDemulcent + and Mouthwash +
    Has primary imageMalva alcea Bilder ur Nordens Flora 235.jpg +
    Has search namemalva alcea + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameMalva alcea +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +