the flowers are from 0.5-5 cm diameter, with five pink or white petals. Malva species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Grizzled Skipper.
Cultivation and uses
Several species are widely grown as garden flowers, while some are invasive weeds, particularly in the Americas where they are not native.
Many species are edible as leaf vegetables. Malva verticillata (Chinese: 冬寒菜; pinyin: dōngháncài, Korean=동규자) is grown on a limited commercial scale in China; when made as a herbal infusion, it is used for its colon cleansing properties and as a weight loss supplement.
Very easily grown, short-lived perennials often grown as ornamental plants. Mild tasting young mallow leaves make a very good substitute for lettuce, whereas older leaves are better cooked as a leafy green vegetable. The flowers can be used in salads.
Cultivation is by sowing the seeds directly outdoors in early spring. The seed is very easy to collect, and they will often spread themselves by seed.
History
This plant is one of the earliest cited in recorded literature. Horace mentions it in reference to his own diet, which he describes as very simple: "Me pascunt olivae, me cichorea, me malvae" ("As for me, olives, endives, and mallows provide sustenance").. Lord Monboddo describes his translation of an ancient epigram that demonstrates malva was planted upon the graves of the ancients, stemming from the belief that the dead could feed on such perfect plants. |
