Malva verticillata

Malva verticillata
Illustration of th leaves and seeds of M. verticillata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Subfamily:	Malvoideae
Genus:	Malva
Species:	M. verticillata
Binomial name
Malva verticillata L. (1753)

Malva verticillata, also known as the Chinese Mallow is a species of the Mallow genus Malva in the family of Malvaceae found in East Asia. M. verticillata is an annual or biennial that grow up to 1.7 meters in high and can inhabit woodland areas of different soil types. In temperate climates, it flowers from July to September and the seeds from August to October. The flowers of the plant are self fertile but can be also propagated by insects.^[1]

The plant was an important leaf vegetable in pre-Han Dynasty China and widely cultivated.^[2]

M. verticillata flower   M. verticillata leaves   M. verticillata aerial portions

References

1. ^ Malva verticillata - L., Plants For A Future,, http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Malva%20verticillata 
2. ^ Anderson, Eugene N. (1988), The Food of China, Yale University Press