Malva
1575696
222309114
2008-06-28T17:19:28Z
Cuaxdon
6807998
/* Cultivation and uses */
: ''Malva was also an ancient [[Romula|Roman city]] in present Romania. It is also an alternative spelling for the Indian region and state [[Malwa]], and the pseudonym of Syrian artist [[Omar Hamdi]].''
{{Taxobox
| image = Malva-sylvestris-20070430-1.jpg
| image_width = 260px
| image_caption = ''Malva sylvestris''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Malvaceae]]
| genus = '''''Malva'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| type_species = [[Malva sylvestris|M. sylvestris]]''<ref name="ing">{{cite web
| url = http://botany.si.edu/ing/INGsearch.cfm?searchword=Malva
| title = ''Malva'' L.
| accessdate = 2008-05-09
| date = 1996-02-09
| format = HTML
| work = [[Index Nominum Genericorum]]
| publisher = [[International Association for Plant Taxonomy]]
}}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
About 25–30; [[#Species_list|see text]].<br/>
| synonyms =
''[[Axolopha]]'' (DC.) Alef.<br/>
''Dinacrusa'' G. Krebs<ref name="GRIN">{{cite web
| url = http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?7216
| title = Genus: ''Malva'' L.
| accessdate = 2008-05-09
| author = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
| authorlink = Germplasm Resources Information Network
| date = 2007-03-12
| format = HTML
| work = Taxonomy for Plants
| publisher = [[United States Department of Agriculture|USDA]], [[Agricultural Research Service|ARS]], National Genetic Resources Program, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland
}}</ref>
}}
'''''Malva''''' is a genus of about 25–30 species of [[herbaceous]] [[annual plant|annual]], [[biennial plant|biennial]], and [[perennial plant]]s in the family [[Malvaceae]] (of which it is the type genus), one of several closely related genera in the family to bear the common English name '''[[mallow]]'''. The genus is widespread throughout the temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[Europe]].<ref name=mi/>
The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, palmately lobed; the [[flower]]s are from 0.5–5 cm diameter, with five pink or white petals.
''Malva'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Grizzled Skipper]].
==Cultivation and uses==
Several species are widely grown as [[garden]] flowers, while some are [[invasive species|invasive weeds]], particularly in the [[Americas]] where they are not native.
Many species are edible as [[leaf vegetable]]s. ''Malva verticillata'' ({{zh-cp|c=冬寒菜|p=dōngháncài}}, [[Korean script|Korean]]: {{lang|ko|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 can be a substitute for [[lettuce]], whereas older leaves are better cooked as a leafy green vegetable. The buds and flowers can be used in salads.
Cultivation is by sowing the seeds directly outdoors in early spring. The seed is 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").<ref>Horace, ''Odes 31, ver 15'', ca 30 BC</ref> [[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.<ref>Letter from [[Monboddo]] to John Hope, 29 April, 1779; reprinted by William Knight 1900 ISBN 1-85506-207-0</ref>
Mallow, which grows wild in [[Israel]], was widely used as a source of nourishment in wartime and periods of austerity. Known as ''hubeza,'' it was used in salads, soups and other dishes <ref>[http://www.stratsplace.com/rogov/israel/free_for_taking.html Daniel Rogov's Free For The Taking]</ref>
==Species list==
*''[[Malva aegyptia]]''
*''[[Malva alcea]]'' L.-- Greater Musk-mallow, vervain mallow
*''[[Malva assurgentiflora]]''
*''[[Malva brasiliensis]]'' Desr. -- Brazilian mallow
*''[[Malva canariensis]]''
*''[[Malva cretica]]''
*''[[Malva dendromorpha]]'' -- Tree Mallow
*''[[Malva hispanica]]''
*''[[Malva microcarpa]]''
*''[[Malva microphylla]]''
*''[[Malva mohileviensis]]''
*''[[Malva moschata]]'' L. -- Musk-mallow
*''[[Malva neglecta]]'' - Dwarf Mallow. buttonweed, cheeseplant, cheeseweed, common mallow, roundleaf mallow
*''[[Malva nicaeensis]]'' All. - French Mallow, bull mallow
*''[[Malva oxyloba]]''
*''[[Malva pacifica]]''
*''[[Malva parviflora]]'' L. -- Least Mallow, cheeseweed, cheeseweed mallow, small-whorl mallow
*''[[Malva preissiana]]'' - Australian Hollyhock
*''[[Malva pseudolavatera]]''
*''[[Malva pusilla]]'' - Small Mallow
*''[[Malva qaiseri]]''
*''[[Malva rotundifolia]]'' L. -- low mallow, Malva rotundifolia
*''[[Malva sinensis]]''
*''[[Malva stipulacea]]''
*''[[Malva sylvestris]]'' L. -- Common Mallow, high mallow
*''[[Malva tournefortiana]]''
*''[[Malva trifida]]''
*''[[Malva verticillata]]'' L. -- Chinese Mallow, cluster mallow
*''[[Malva wigandii]]''
<small>Sources:</small><ref name=mi>Malvaceae Info: [http://www.malvaceae.info/Genera/Malva/Malva.html ''Malva'']</ref><ref name=africa>Africal Flowering Plants Database: [http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/resultat.php ''Malva'']</ref><ref name=fe>Flora Europaea: [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Malva&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK=species ''Malva'']</ref><ref name=fp>Flora of Pakistan: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=119571 ''Malva'']</ref><ref name=fc>Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=3&taxon_id=119571 ''Malva'' checklist]</ref><ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS|ID=21832|taxon=''Malva'' L.|year=2008|date=9 May}}</ref><ref name ="uniprot">{{cite web
| url = http://beta.uniprot.org/taxonomy/96479
| title = Genus '''Malva'''
| accessdate = 2008-05-09
| author = UniProt
| authorlink = UniProt
| format = HTML
}}</ref>
== References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commonscat-inline}}
{{wikispecies-inline}}
[[Category:Malvaceae]]
[[Category:Lawn weeds]]
[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
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