Spotted-stalked tree-mallow

Description

Malva punctata (syn. Lavatera punctata), commonly called spotted-stalked tree-mallow or annual tree mallow, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Malva of the family Malvaceae. Malva punctata reaches on average 20–90 cm (7.9–35.4 in) of height. The stem is erect and covered with scattered hairs. The leaves are alternate, trilobed with the central lobe larger than the others, petiolate with stipules, the lowest are kidney-shaped and slightly lobed, while the upper ones are pentagonal. The flowers grow in the axils of the leaves. Calyx is campanulate, five-lobed, with five triangular pink petals with purple veins, of about 15–3 centimetres (5.9–1.2 in), three times longer than the calyx. The flowering period extends from May through June. Plant of western Mediterranean origin is distributed from the South of France and Italy to Albania, Greece, Palestine, Israel, Asia Minor and Turkey.