Jin hui
Malva sinensis
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A herb. It can grow for 2 or more years. It is 50-90 cm high. It has many branches. The leaves are alternate. The edges of the leaves have teeth. Leaves taper to the tip. The leaves are heart shaped or kidney shaped. They have 5-7 lobes. Leaves are 5-12 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. They are papery. Flowers occur in the axils of leaves in groups of 3-11. Flowers are red-purple or white. They are 3.5-4 cm across. The fruit is a flat, round capsule. It is 5-7 mm across. It is hairy. The seeds are dark brown and kidney shaped. They are 2 mm across.
There are about 30 Malva species.
Where it is found
It is cultivated throughout China.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, India
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Dawanhua, Yejunkui