Malva preissiana

Malva preissiana
Australian Hollyhock
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Malva
Species:	M. preissiana
Binomial name
Malva preissiana Miq.
Synonyms
Malva behriana Schltdl. Lavatera australis Schrad. ex Colla Lavatera behriana (Schltdl.) Schltdl. Lavatera plebeia Sims Malva australiana M.F.Ray Althaea plebeia (Sims) Schult. ex Steud.

Malva preissiana (Australian Hollyhock or Native Hollyhock) is a herbaceous perennial in the family Malvaceae, found in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland and to a greater extent in South Australia.

It is a large asexual herb, growing up to 3 metres high and up to 3 metres wide, depending on the number of stalks or branches, that the bush has. It is a short lived perennial living around 3-5 years.

The plant was once common on the banks of waterways in Southern Australia, especially those on the plain where the city of Adelaide now stands. It was greatly admired by the early settlers of the Adelaide region as it reminded them of the hollyhocks back in their home country of England. This did not stop them destroying most of the areas where Native hollyhock occurred, and today it is a rare species. It still occurs in small populations on the banks of the River Torrens. Recently it has also been included in several revegetation projects in parks across the city.

The leaves are hairy and typical of most mallows. They have five pointed lobes, and they have large prominent veins. In spring, Native Holyhock breaks out into masses of large showy flowers. This makes it an extremely ecologically valuable plant for the local bees and butterflies. Flowers range in colour from the common white, to pale pink and mauve. The flowers have five petals which tinge slightly yellow as they reach the centre of the flower. The flowers die back in early summer to reveal a small cup shaped fruit containing clusters of small black seeds with unusual shapes. During summer the plant dies down and goes into a period of little or no growth until the rains arrive in autumn.

Human uses

The plants large, tuberous root, has important medicinal properties, and was also mashed and eaten by the local aboriginal people. Native hollyhock is easily propagated from its complex black seeds.

References

• "Malva preissiana". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=5322. 
• "Lavatera plebeia". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia. http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/texhtml.cgi?form=speciesfacts&family=Malvaceae&genus=Lavatera&species=plebeia.