1. Malva moschata L. (musk mallow)

M. moschata f. laciniata (Desr.) Hayek

Pl. 453 i; Map 2056

Plants perennial. Stems 40–100 cm long, erect or ascending, sparsely pubescent with mostly simple hairs toward the base, with mostly fasciculate or stellate hairs toward the tip. Stipules 3–8 mm long, linear to narrowly oblong-lanceolate. Leaf blades 2–6 cm long, flat or nearly so, circular to kidney-shaped in outline, at least the uppermost ones deeply 5- or 7-lobed (more than 1/2 way to the base), the lobes mostly deeply lobed again, the margins otherwise sparsely and bluntly toothed or lobed, the surfaces glabrous or sparsely pubescent with mostly simple or fasciculate hairs. Flowers in axillary clusters and also usually in a short dense terminal raceme, long-stalked, the bractlets subtending the calyx linear to narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate, glabrous or nearly so except along the margins. Calyces 6–8 mm long at flowering, expanding to 15 mm long at fruiting, initially cup-shaped, but becoming enlarged and flattened horizontally at fruiting, with a distinct network of veins, the outer surface pubescent with simple, fasciculate, and stellate hairs, the marginal hairs 0.6–1.2 mm long. Petals 2.0–3.5 cm long, white to pink or pale purple. Fruits 1.5–2.0 mm long, rounded on the dorsal surface, densely hairy but lacking wrinkles or a pattern of thickenings, the sides thin and papery, without noticeable veins or thickenings. Seeds 1.2–1.5 mm long. 2n=42. May–October.

Introduced, known thus far from historical collections from Boone and Dent Counties (native of Europe, escaped sporadically in the northern U.S. and Canada). Margins of crop fields, roadsides, and open disturbed areas.

Malva moschata is cultivated as an ornamental in gardens and occasionally escapes from cultivation.