{{Short description|Plant species in the mallow family}} {{expand German|topic=sci|date=November 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Speciesbox | image = Malva neglecta-flower.jpg | genus = Malva | species = neglecta | authority = Wallr. | synonyms_ref = <ref name="POWO">{{cite POWO |id=561795-1 |title=''Malva neglecta'' Wallr. |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref> | synonyms = {{Collapsible list | {{Species list | Malva fruticans | Dorner ex Rchb. | Malva orbiculata | Pomel | Malva prostrata | Gilib. | Malva rotundifolia var. crispa | Wimm. & Grab. | Malva rotundifolia var. grandior | Wahlenb. | Malva rotundifolia var. intermedia | Ball | Malva rotundifolia var. perennans | Post | Malva salvitellensis | V.Brig. | Malva vulgaris | Fr. }} }} }}
'''''Malva neglecta''''' is a species of plant of the family Malvaceae, native to most of the Old World except sub-Saharan Africa. It is an annual growing to 0.6 m (2 ft). It is known as '''common mallow''' in the United States and also as '''buttonweed''', '''cheeseplant''', '''cheeseweed''', '''dwarf mallow''', and '''roundleaf mallow'''.<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=21836 |taxon=Malva neglecta |access-date=9 May 2008}}</ref> This plant is often consumed as a food, with its leaves, stalks and seed all being considered edible.<ref>Facciola S. Cornucopia – A Source Book of Edible Plants. Vista, Ca. Kampong Publications, 1990. 677 p.</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/bdGAUejE8BM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140626063406/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdGAUejE8BM&feature=channel_page Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdGAUejE8BM&feature=channel_page| title = Wild Living with Sunny: Episode 16 - Mallow Plant S'mores | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Malva+neglecta|title=Malva neglecta Dwarf Mallow, Common mallow PFAF Plant Database}}</ref> This is especially true of the seeds, which contain 21% protein and 15.2% fat.<ref>Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Proximate Analysis Tables of Higher Plants. Boca Raton, Fl. CRC Press, 1986. 389 p.</ref>
==Description== Dwarf mallow is a prostrate, downy, herbaceous plant, growing to approximately {{convert|60|cm|abbr=on}}. The leaves are alternate with long, strongly channeled petioles, up to {{convert|12|cm|abbr=on}}, and narrowly triangular stipules. It is a broadleaf winter annual that also persists through a biennial or perennial life cycle if environmental conditions are favorable.<ref>{{cite report |last1=Patton |first1=Aaron |last2=Beck |first2=Laura |last3=Daniel |first3=Kathy |date=2019-12-03 |title=Spotlight on Weeds: Common Mallow (''Malva neglecta'') |series=Purdue Landscape Report |publisher=Purdue University |url=https://www.purduelandscapereport.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Spotlight-on-Weeds-Common-Mallow-Malva-neglecta.pdf |access-date=2026-01-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last1=Donaldson |first1=Susan |last2=Mazet |first2=Wendy Hanson |date=2010 |title=A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Common Mallow: ''Malva neglecta'' |series=Fact Sheet 10-21 |publisher=University of Nevada Cooperative Extension |url=https://naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2020-3397.pdf |access-date=2026-01-25 }}</ref> Each leaf is reniform or with 5–7 shallow lobes, the basal leaves are {{convert|3–7|cm|abbr=on}}. It grows a tough taproot.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Batsatsashvili |first1=K. |last2=Mehdiyeva |first2=N. |last3=Fayvush |first3=G. |last4=Kikvidze |first4=Z. |last5=Khutsishvili |first5=M. |last6=Maisaia |first6=I. |last7=Sikharulidze |first7=S. |last8=Tchelidze |first8=D. |last9=Alizade |first9=V. |last10=Aleksanyan |first10=A. |last11=Paniagua-Zambrana |first11=N. Y. |year=2017 |chapter=Malva neglecta Wallr.; Malva sylvestris L. |editor-last=Bussmann |editor-first=R. W. |title=Ethnobotany of the Caucasus |publisher=Springer International Publishing |location=Cham |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-49412-8_115 |url=https://www.academia.edu/download/80228208/978-3-319-49412-8_115.pdf |access-date=24 January 2026 }}</ref> The flowers are single-stalked and occur in clusters of 2–5 in the leaf axils. The flower stalks are shorter than the leaf stalks, with the leaves partially obscuring the flowers. The fruits are schizocarps, which split into 10–12 mericarps (nutlets) and are smooth and hairy.<ref name=Stace>{{cite book |last1=Stace |first1=C.A. |title=New Flora of the British Isles |date=2019 |location=Suffolk |isbn=978-1-5272-2630-2}}</ref><ref name=Rose>{{cite book |last1=Rose |first1=Francis |title=The Wild Flower Key |date=2006 |publisher=Frederick Warne |location=London|isbn=978-0-7232-5175-0}}</ref>
In addition to daily phototropic movements, leaves show epinasty, geotropism and sleeping behaviors. Leaves joined to the stem on the east side of the plant bend abaxially and leaves on the west side of the plant bend adaxially, while leaves on the north and south sides turn sideways. Overnight, leaves were observed returning to their morning position.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Yin |first=H. C. |title=Diaphototropic movement of the leaves of ''Malva neglecta'' |journal=American Journal of Botany |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=1–6 |year=1938 |doi=10.1002/j.1537-2197.1938.tb09178.x }}</ref>
thumb|Frost tolerance seen in Canada After introduction into Canada, common mallow was found to be freezing tolerant, retaining the capacity for photosynthesis and respiration after long periods of exposure to subfreezing temperatures.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Makowski |first1=R. M. |last2=Morrison |first2=I. N. |title=The biology of Canadian weeds. 91. ''Malva pusilla'' Sm. (= ''M. rotundifolia'' L.) |journal=Canadian Journal of Plant Science |volume=69 |issue=3 |date=July 1989 |pages=861–879 |doi=10.4141/cjps89-101 |url=https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/pdf/10.4141/cjps89-101 |access-date=24 January 2026 }}</ref>
==Life cycle== Malva neglecta exibits six age states: seedlings, juveniles, immatures, virginals, young generatives, and middle-aged generatives. Seedling leaf blades are pubescent below and along the edge. Juvenile plants have a solitary shoot and rounded leaves with wavy toothed edges. Immature plants show kidney-shaped leaves with jagged edges. Virginile plants present rosettes of 3-5 rounded heart-shaped leaves. Young generative plants develop solitary white or light pink flowers. Branching of the generative shoot is observed in Middle-aged plants.<ref>{{cite conference |last=Saribaeva |first=Shakhnoza |title=Morphological variability and vitality of the cenopopulation of ''Malva neglecta'' Wallr. |conference=E3S Web of Conferences, SDEA-2024 |date=13 June 2024 |doi=10.1051/e3sconf/202453705024 |url=https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202453705024 }}</ref> While young leaves and stems are green, mature leaves and lower stems vary from green to purple in color.<ref>{{cite book | author1 = Ketevan Batsatsashvili | author2 = Naiba P. Mehdiyeva | author3 = George Fayvush | author4 = Zaal Kikvidze | author5 = Manana Khutsishvili | author6 = Inesa Maisaia | chapter = Malva neglecta Wallr. Malva sylvestris L. Malvaceae | editor = Bussmann, R | title = Ethnobotany of the Caucasus | publisher = Springer | year = 2017 | pages = 395–403 | doi = 10.1007/978-3-319-49412-8_115 | url = https://www.academia.edu/download/80228208/978-3-319-49412-8_115.pdf | access-date = 29 January 2026 }}</ref>
==Ecology==
===Acyrthosiphon Malvae=== Although the ecology is more complex, in the Thames valley, '''Acyrthosiphon Malvae''' (informally Aphis Malvae) is the common aphid found feeding on common mallow.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Eastop | first1 = Victor F. | title = Keys for identification of Acyrthosiphon | journal = Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) | series = Entomology | volume = 26 | issue = 1 | page = 52 | date = 1971 | url = https://file.iflora.cn/fastdfs/group1/M00/63/C3/wKhnoF2AAvWATbvvAesU0oXuPiE959.pdf | access-date = 1 February 2026 | issn = 0524-6431 }}</ref>
==Distribution== ;Native :'''Palearctic''': ::'''Macaronesia''': Canary Islands ::'''Northern Africa''': Algeria, Morocco ::'''Arabian Peninsula''': Saudi Arabia ::'''Western Asia''': Afghanistan, Cyprus, Sinai, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Historic Palestine, Syria, Turkey ::'''Caucasus''': Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia ::'''Soviet Middle Asia''': Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan ::'''Mongolia''': Mongolia ::'''China''': Xinjiang ::'''Indian Subcontinent''': India, Pakistan ::'''Northern Europe''': Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom ::'''Middle Europe''': Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland ::'''Southeastern Europe''': Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Sardinia, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania, ::'''Southwestern Europe''': France, Portugal, Spain <small>Source:</small><ref name=GRIN>{{GRIN | ''Malva neglecta'' | 23305 | access-date = 20 April 2017}}</ref>
== Uses == The plant has 1-Octacosanol,<ref name="Dr. Dukes p">{{Cite web |title=Plant Malva neglecta (Malvaceae) {{!}} Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases |url=https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/plant-malva-neglecta |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=phytochem.nal.usda.gov}}</ref> Ascorbic (acid), Choline,<ref name="Dr. Dukes p" /> alkaloids, and saponin (the plant has a certain antioxidant content).<ref>{{Cite web |title=PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF SOME SPECIES OF IRANIAN PLANTS (KURDISTAN PROVINCE ) |url=http://www.ijpr-online.com/Docs/20032/IJPR122.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040810051509/http://www.ijpr-online.com/Docs/20032/IJPR122.htm |archive-date=2004-08-10 |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=www.ijpr-online.com}}</ref> It has a high nitrate content, similar to that of arugula.<ref name="PFAF">{{Cite web |title=BPB : Vol. 27 (2004) , No. 5 702 |url=http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/27/5/27_702/_article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303005040/http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/27/5/27_702/_article |archive-date=2008-03-03 |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=www.jstage.jst.go.jp}}</ref><ref name="poi">Anthony P. Knight, Richard G. Walter: ''Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America.'' Teton NewMedia, 2001, {{ISBN|978-1-893441-11-8}}. S. 28.</ref> The flowers contain tannins.
===Therapeutic=== A common traditionally used medicinal plant, used for catarrh, enteritis, sore throat, hoarse voice, and as an expectorant.<ref name="Dr. Dukes e">{{Cite web |title=Ethnobotanical Plant Malva neglecta {{!}} Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases |url=https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/ethnobotanical-plant-malva-neglecta |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=phytochem.nal.usda.gov}}</ref> A lab study has shown that the plant is good for stomach ulcers<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gürbüz |first=Ilhan |last2=Ozkan |first2=Ayse Mine |last3=Yesilada |first3=Erdem |last4=Kutsal |first4=Osman |date=2005-10-03 |title=Anti-ulcerogenic activity of some plants used in folk medicine of Pinarbasi (Kayseri, Turkey) |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16085377 |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |volume=101 |issue=1-3 |pages=313–318 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2005.05.015 |issn=0378-8741 |pmid=16085377}}</ref>
===Seeds=== The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked and have a nutty flavor.<ref name="PFAF" /> Mature seeds can be cooked like rice or grains.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nyerges|first=Christopher|title=Foraging Washington: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods|publisher=Falcon Guides|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4930-2534-3|location=Guilford, CT|oclc=965922681}}</ref> In the past, seeds were ground into flour in times of need.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LNVL - Regulus - Wilde Mehllieferanten |url=https://www.luxnatur.lu/regulus/r20000410.htm |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=www.luxnatur.lu}}</ref>
===Root=== The root can be ground and used as a meringue substitute<ref>{{cite book |last=Facciola |first=Stephen |title=Cornucopia: A Source Book of Edible Plants |publisher=Kampong Publications |year=1990 |location=Vista, California |isbn=978-0961018412 }}</ref> by boiling in water, simmering until thickened, and then whisked like egg whites.<ref>{{cite web |title=Malva neglecta |url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=malva+neglecta |website=Plants For A Future |access-date=2026-01-27 }}</ref>
===Leaves=== Leaves are useful in salads, can be eaten raw, and contain Vitamin C, significant protein and mineral content.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Özer |first1=M. |last2=Aksoy |first2=M. |title=Mineral composition and nutritional properties of ''Malva neglecta'' and ''Malvella sherardiana'' consumed as vegetable in Central Black Sea Region of Turkey |journal=Turkish Journal of Food and Agriculture Sciences |date=2019-06-30 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=18–23 |issn=2687-3818 |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/822815 }}</ref> In culinary applications, it is cooked similar to spinach, or used for thickening soups, as the leaves release a thickening agent similar to okra which is also in the mallow family. In Morocco leaves are known as ''Bakola'' or ''Khobiza'', braised as a side dish (called salad, but cooked) or used as a sauce over couscous.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Powell | first1 = Bronwen | last2 = Ouarghidi | first2 = Abderrahim | last3 = Johns | first3 = Timothy | last4 = Ibn Tattou | first4 = Mohamed | last5 = Eyzaguirre | first5 = Pablo | title = Wild leafy vegetable use and knowledge across multiple sites in Morocco: a case study for transmission of local knowledge | journal = Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | volume = 10 | year = 2014 | article-number = 34 | pmid = 24708730 | pmc = 4008438 | doi = 10.1186/1746-4269-10-34 | doi-access = free}}</ref> In Jewish and Egyptian cooking, leaves are made into a stew called Mulukhiyah.
== Botanical gallery == <gallery> File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 18.jpg|Plant spreads along ground, leaves not large, leaves fairly uniform size (Antalya) File:Malva neglecta in Edinburgh by David Merrick 01.jpg|Spreading on rocks, similarly (Edinburgh) File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 09.jpg|Flowers, fruits and leaves File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 16.jpg|Flowers, fruits and leaves, closer File:Malva neglecta in Edinburgh by David Merrick 04.jpg|Flowers can be pink with bold veins or may be pale File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 10.jpg|Paler form, hairs (visible) in centre at petal stalks File:Malva neglecta in Edinburgh by David Merrick 03.jpg|Flower much larger than calyx, green calyx with 5 broad parts, epicalyx at base formed of 3 narrow strips File:Malva neglecta in Edinburgh by David Merrick 02.jpg|Flowers may have long to very long stalks File:Malva neglecta in Edinburgh by David Merrick 08.jpg|Fruits File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 14.jpg|Fruits File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 15.jpg|Fruiting undersides, showing epicalyx of 3 narrow strips File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 11.jpg|Flowers and fruits from side showing the features above, stalks reasonably long File:Malva neglecta in Edinburgh by David Merrick 05.jpg|Hairs a mixture of stellate (star-like) and simple File:Malva neglecta in Edinburgh by David Merrick 06.jpg|Hairs a mixture of stellate (star-like) and simple File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 17.jpg|Leaf File:Malva neglecta in Edinburgh by David Merrick 07.jpg|Leaf underside File:Malva neglecta in Antalya by David Merrick 13.jpg|Leaf underside </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Wikispecies-inline}} * {{cite web | url = http://beta.uniprot.org/taxonomy/183277 | title = Species '''Malva neglecta''' (Common mallow) | access-date = 2008-05-09 | author = UniProt | author-link = UniProt }} * {{cite web | url = https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MANE | title = PLANTS Profile, ''Malva neglecta'' | access-date = 2008-05-09 | author = Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | author-link = Natural Resources Conservation Service | work = The PLANTS Database | publisher = United States Department of Agriculture }} * {{PFAF|Malva neglecta}} * {{Calflora}} * {{CalPhotos|Malva|neglecta}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q153343}}
neglecta Category:Edible plants Category:Flora of Europe Category:Flora of North Africa Category:Flora of the Canary Islands Category:Flora of temperate Asia Category:Flora of tropical Asia Category:Taxa named by Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Wallroth