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Malva pusilla
  • Dwarf Mallow

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

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
  • 6
    Zone 6
    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 pusilla has 0 edible uses listed
Malva pusilla has 0 material uses listed
Malva pusilla 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][3]. A mild pleasant flavour, it can be used in quantity and makes an excellent salad plant. It is possibly the best for flavour in this genus though it is much lower yielding than the annual M. verticillata 'Crispa' or the perennials M. alcea and M. moschata[K]. Seed - raw or cooked[2][4]. Best used before it is fully mature, the seed has a pleasant nutty taste but it is rather small and very fiddly to harvest[K].

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads[5]. The root can be used as a toothbrush[2].

Unknown part

Dye
Dental care

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves are demulcent and have occasionally been used internally in the treatment of inflammations of the digestive and urinary systems[6]. Externally they have been used as a poultice for bruises, inflammations, piles etc[6][7]. This plant is less active than the common mallow (M. sylvestris) and the marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis)[6]. The seed is demulcent[7]. It is used in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis, ulceration of the bladder and haemorrhoids[7]. It is applied externally in the treatment of skin diseases[7].

Unknown part

Demulcent
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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

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



Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[8], though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[9].

This plant has been extensively cultivated as a pot-herb in some countries[6]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[10].

Plants are prone to infestation by rust fungus[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Malva pusilla. 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 pusilla.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Malva pusilla
Genus
Malva
Family
Malvaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[6][7]
Material uses & Functions
[5][2]
Botanic
[11][2]
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
6
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
  • Strong wind
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
annual
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.3 x meters
Fertility
self fertile
Pollinators
Insects, Self
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite











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. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.5 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh (1976-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.4 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.4 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
  8. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  10. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
  11. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)


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Facts about "Malva pusilla"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyMalvaceae +
Belongs to genusMalva +
Has common nameDwarf Mallow +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partLeaves + and Seeds +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Insects + and Self +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone6 +
Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useDye + and Dental care +
Has mature height0.3 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useDemulcent + and Poultice +
Has search namemalva pusilla + 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 pusilla +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +