Malva trimestris

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lavatera grandiflora
• Lavatera trimestris var. malviformis
• Lavatera africana
• Lavatera altheifolia
• Lavatera alba
• Malva africana
• Lavatera meonantha
• Malva trimestris var. moschata
• Lavatera trimestris
• Lavatera pseudotrimestris
• Althaea trimestris
• Lavatera trimestris var. pseudotrimestris
• Lavatera trimestris var. brachypoda
• Stegia trimestris
• Lavatera trimestris var. moschata
• Stegia trimestris var. brachypoda
• Malva trimestris var. brachypoda
• Lavatera trimestris f. colorata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Malva trimestris, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, following the order Malvales. Finally, it is a member of the family Malvaceae and falls under the genus Malva.

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 through both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can be found within Middle Europe, specifically in Germany and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Additionally, the species reaches the Mediterranean landscapes of Southwestern Europe. Its distribution concludes in the Baleares, demonstrating a wide variety of habitats.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Malva trimestris is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, though it is most frequently observed in lowland areas. In these low-altitude regions, the species thrives in open, disturbed sites such as roadsides, agricultural fields, waste ground, and fallow lands where sunlight is abundant. It prefers well-drained soils and is capable of colonizing a variety of soil types, ranging from sandy to loamy, provided there is sufficient light availability to support its rapid growth cycle. As an opportunistic species, its ecological presence is often defined by its ability to exploit nutrient-rich, disturbed landscapes, allowing it to establish itself quickly in habitats where competition from perennial vegetation may be minimal.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Malva trimestris is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives the unfavorable periods of its environment through the production of resistant seeds rather than through persistent vegetative structures like rhizomes or woody stems. This life form strategy allows the plant to rapidly colonize disturbed soils and exploit seasonal resources, effectively completing its reproductive cycle before the onset of environmental stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Malva trimestris is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb, consisting of a non-woody, independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial lifestyle. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, liana, or vine, and it exhibits an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, the plant is variable in size, with a minimum height of 0.2 m, a mean height of 1.5 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Malva trimestris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant's vegetative development is closely linked to its leaf morphology, where leaf length varies significantly, ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a mean of 3.5 cm, with some leaves reaching a maximum length of 9 cm. Complementing these longitudinal dimensions, the leaf width shows a corresponding range, starting from a minimum of 2.5 cm and extending to a maximum of 7 cm. These morphological variations in leaf surface area play a critical role in regulating gas exchange and light interception within the C3 photosynthetic framework.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Malva trimestris is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and a diverse approach to seed dissemination. The plant begins its flowering period in June and continues through August, though the exact timing can be variable. The seeds produced during this cycle exhibit specific physical properties, with a mean seed mass of 0.00527 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00341 g to a maximum of 0.00658 g. In terms of dispersal, the species employs an unspecialized syndrome, utilizing a variety of methods including anemochory, zoochory, autochory, and hydrochory. Additionally, the plant exhibits anthropochorous dispersal, meaning its seeds are frequently spread through human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass max:

0.00658 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00527 g

Seed mass min:

0.00341 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Malva trimestris has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Caffeic acid methyl ester, Kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucoside, kaempferol-7-o-beta-d-glucoside.

Caffeic acid methyl ester

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucoside

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

kaempferol-7-o-beta-d-glucoside

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Activities

Malva trimestris has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Antioxidant

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences