Malva alcea, L.

5. M. alcea L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 689 (1753).

Erect perennial 30-125 cm; stems sparsely hirsute below, stellate-pubescent above. Upper leaves usually palmatisect, with (3-)5 obtusely dentate or pinnatifid lobes; lower leaves cordate-orbicular, less deeply lobed. Pedicels with stellate hairs only. Epicalyx-segments 3, ovatedeltate, densely pubescent; petals 20-35 mm, bright pink; staminal tube with long hairs. Mericarps glabrous or pubescent; dorsal face and angles rounded, smooth or with faint ridges. 2« = 84. • Most of Europe, northwards to S. Sweden, but rare in the Mediterranean region. Au Be Bu Co Cz Da Ga Ge He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (B, C, W, E) Sa Su [Fe No].

Very variable in leaf-shape, indumentum, and shape and size of petals. Numerous variants have been described as species, but the correlation between the variable characters does not seem to be good enough to permit of taxonomic recognition. M. excisa Reichenb. in Reichenb. & Reichenb. fil., Icon. FI. Germ. 5: 18 (1841), represents the most extreme variant. It has deeply bifid petals and deeply divided upper leaves with narrow, almost simple lobes.