Blue mallow, Dwarf mallow
Malva rotundifolia

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It is 25-50 cm high. There are many branches. They usually lie along the ground. The leaf stalk is 3-12 cm long. The leaf blade is kidney shaped and sometimes with 5-7 lobes. Leaves are 1-3 cm long and 1-4 cm across. They are papery. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves in groups of 3-4. Flowers are white or pink. The fruit is a flat, round capsule. It is 5-6 mm across. The seeds are kidney shaped and 1 mm across.

There are about 30 Malva species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in open areas and grassy slopes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Greece, Haiti, India, Italy, Mediterranean, Morocco, Northeastern India, North Africa, Sikkim, Tunisia, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young leaves picked before the appearance of the fower button are cooked and eaten in soups. They are also used in salads.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chamo pachunguna, Chandiri, Kadukadalegida, Khaparkuti, Khubasi, Trikalamalli, Yuan ye jin kui

Synonyms

Probably now Malva neglecta;