Mallows, Castillian mallow, Curled mallow
Malva verticillata

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

An erect herb. It takes 1 or 2 years to complete its life cycle. It grows to about 1 m high. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are half round or heart shaped. There are 3-5 lobes. The leaves are 5-11 cm long by 5-11 cm wide. The lobes are rounded and with shallow round teeth. The flowers have short stalks. They are pink or white. They are crowded in the axils of leaves. The fruit is flat and round and 5-7 mm across. The seeds are kidney shaped and 1.5 mm across. They are purple-brown.

There are about 30 Malva species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal it grows between 2000-3500 m altitude. It grows in moist soil near villages. It grows in Yunnan in China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Greece, Himalayas, India, Italy, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sikkim, South America, Tanzania, Tibet, Uganda, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves and shoots are cooked and eaten as a potherb. They are also used in pickles and in stir fries.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It was an important vegetable in ancient China. It is cultivated in the Mediterranean as a salad plant.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Auk, Bod cham, Boecham, Chamba, Chamla, Champa lhamo, Champa metog, Chinese mallow, Chyampa pho, Chyatalama, Cluster mallow, Ekituruguma, Iamuda, Har-a nogug-a, Icam pa, Jiangba, Jin kui, Lafesag, Laffa, Laphe sag, Majino, Majaino, Ma ning cham pa, Mikanchi, Napa shak, Ninagu, Nyiga, Suchel, Tangshang, Tsangs-spa-la-mos, Tugur nago, Whorled mallow, Wild Kui, Ye Kui

Synonyms

Malva alchemillaefolia Wall.; ? Malva neilgherrensis Wight; ? Althaea crispa (L.) Alef.; Althaea verticillata (L.) Alef.; Malva chinensis Mill.; Malva crispa (L.) L.; Malva meluca Graebn. ex Medw.; Malva meluca Graebn. ex P. Medw.; Malva mohileviensis Downar; Malva pulchella Colla; Malva pulchella Bernh.; Malva verticillata subsp. chinensis (Mill.) Tzvelev; Malva verticillata var. chinensis (Mill.) S.Y.Hu; Malva verticillata subsp. crispa (L.) Tzvelev; Malva verticillata var. crispa L.; Malva verticillata var. verticillata;