Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

Little Mallow, Malva parviflora

Little Mallow, Malva parviflora, 4 Feet High, 6 Feet Wide

Cheeseweed, Malva parviflora	Little Mallow, Malva parviflora
Little Mallow, Malva parviflora	Little Mallow, Malva parviflora
Little Mallow, White Flower	Little Mallow, White Flower
Little Mallow Young Seed Pods	Cheese Weed Young Seed Pods
Cheeseweed Young Seed Pod	Little Mallow Young Seed Pod
Little Mallow, Seed Pods Look Like Cheese Wheel	Little Mallow, Seed Pods Look Like Cheese Wheel

Little Mallow Malva parviflora Mallow Family ( Malvaceae ) Little Mallow: Also called Cheeseweed, Alkali Mallow, or Small-Whorl Mallow. Little Mallow is native to southern Europe, North Africa and south west Asia, extending as far as Turkestan and Afghanistan, and has become naturalised in many other places. Little Mallow is an erect, sparsely hairy stemmed, annual that can reach a height of six and a half feet. It can be found growing in waste soils and along roadsides. The leaves are roundish with wavy margins and up to 4 1/2 inches wide. The small clusters of small ( 1/2" - 3/4" ) flowers with white, to light pink or light blue petals. They are about a 1/5 inch long. The flowers are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. Little Mallow blooms most of the year, especially between January and April. Then again after the summer monsoon rains, until October. The name Cheeseweed was given to this plant because of it's fruit which looks like a cheddar cheese wheel. Little Mallow contains two antifungal proteins. Height: Up To 80" Tall. Flowers: White to pinkish or bluish flowers, 1/2" - 3/4" diameter. Blooming Time: Year - Round, Especially January - April. They reflower from August to frost, in response to the summer rains. Leaves: Green, alternate, palmately lobed. Seeds: The globe - shaped seedpod, surrounded by the persistent calyx, separates at maturity into 7 to 22 kidneyshaped sections. Each section produces 1 to 3 kidney - shaped seeds about 1/16 inch long, very dark brown. Found: Statewide. Very common in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Elevation: Below 4,500 Feet. Habitat: Statewide - Hillsides, Roadsides, Flats, Sandy Plains. In towns they are largely confined to roadsides, borders of cultivated lands, fields, sidewalks, vacant lots, and drainage areas. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken January 17, 2006 in Glendale.