Least Mallow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• alkali mallow
• cheeseweed mallow
• country mallow
• least mallow
• little mallow
• small-whorled mallow
• Egyptian mallow
• cheeseweed
• ring-leaf mallow
• small-flower mallow
• whorl-flower mallow
• whorled mallow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Althaea parviflora
• Malva rotundifolia subsp. parviflora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malvales, it is further organized into the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Malva, specifically as the species Malva parviflora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends to include both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can be found throughout Middle Europe in locations such as Belgium and Germany. Additionally, its distribution reaches into Southwestern Europe, specifically within the Baleares islands. These various locations demonstrate the plant's ability to inhabit diverse European landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Malva parviflora is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 3500 m AMSL. This plant frequently colonizes disturbed and nutrient-rich environments, demonstrating a notable preference for habitats such as dumps, where it can thrive amidst anthropogenic disturbances. Its ability to persist across such a wide range of elevations and varied soil conditions highlights its status as a highly resilient opportunistic species.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dump

Genetics

The genetics of Malva parviflora are characterized by a notable degree of chromosomal variability, which plays a significant role in its evolutionary adaptability and taxonomic classification. Within various populations and studies, the chromosome number has been observed to fluctuate, specifically documented at values of 40 and 44. This variation in the karyotype suggests a complex genomic structure that may be influenced by polyploidy or chromosomal rearrangements, common phenomena in the Malvaceae family. Such genetic plasticity likely contributes to the plant's ability to thrive in diverse ecological niches and varying environmental conditions.

Chromosome number :

40, 44

Life history

The life history of Malva parviflora is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives unfavorable environmental conditions primarily through its seeds rather than through persistent vegetative structures, allowing it to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats. Its growth pattern is distinctly deciduous, shedding its foliage as the seasonal cycle concludes to facilitate the dispersal of its progeny. This life history strategy enables the species to thrive in transient environments, utilizing its ephemeral presence to maximize reproductive output before the onset of dormant periods.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Malva parviflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, rather than an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant is self-supporting, exhibiting an ascending shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it displays significant variability in size, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.75 m. The shoot length is similarly variable, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 70 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.75 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot length max:

70 cm

Shoot length min:

10 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Malva parviflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not possess the ability to function as a nitrogen fixer. Morphologically, its vegetative physiological capacity is driven by its leaf structure, which is distinctly lobed in form. These leaves vary significantly in size to optimize light interception, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. Similarly, leaf width demonstrates considerable variability, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, with a mean width typically observed at approximately 5 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Malva parviflora is primarily a sexual process, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate genetic diversity. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in July, though the timing can be variable across different seasons. These small, violet-colored flowers range in length from 0.25 cm to 0.5 cm. Pollination is achieved through biotic syndromes, specifically relying on insects to transfer pollen. While self-fertilization is noted as absent, the plant ensures reproductive success through its specialized floral traits. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a capsule fruit, which reaches a maximum width of 0.23 cm. The fruit is indehiscent, meaning it does not automatically open at maturity. Within these capsules, the plant produces a high volume of seeds, ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. These seeds are quite small, with a maximum length of 1.8 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.0033914285 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0013 g to a maximum of 0.0082 g). Dispersal of the seeds is managed through an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous traits, meaning human activity plays a significant role in the spread of the species. Asexual reproduction is absent in this plant.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

0.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.25 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.23 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

1.8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0082 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0033914285 g

Seed mass min:

0.0013 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Malva parviflora has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Food & function
2. Archives of Razi Institute

Fruit

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Chemicals

Malva parviflora has 33 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include -carotene, Ash, CALCIUM, CINNAMIC ACID, FAT.

-carotene

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Scientific reports

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. Scientific reports

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon

GLUTAMIC ACID

1. Scientific reports

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

MALVALIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Malva parviflora has 177 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Analgesic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Pharmaceutical biology

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiAGE

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCTS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Malva parviflora has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, aspergillus flavus, insulin resistance, mastitis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations