Name
The genus name Malva means “soft” in latin due to its externally and internally soothing properties.
Specific name neglecta stand for “neglected”.
Also Known as
- Common Mallow
- Buttonweed
- Cheeseplant
- Cheeseweed
- Dwarf Mallow
- Roundleaf Mallow
Identification Keys
- perennial herbaceous
- arises from a long, slender taproot
- can creep along the ground or grow upright
- crinkled, rounded to heart-shaped, toothed, slightly hairy, long-stalked basal leaves
- alternate leaves are similar to the basal leaves
- leaves have five to seven shallow lobes
- the leaf is notched where it connects to the leaf stalk
- white to pale-pink or lavender flowers
- five-petaled, long-stalked flowers arise from the leaf axils
- the flower has a bushy column of many stamens and one pistil in the center
- pink lines run the length of the petals
- the petals are notched at the tips
- fruits are round and flat like a wheel of cheese
Habitat
- lawns
- fields
- disturbed habitats
- edge habitats
- parks
- sunny and partly shaded habitats such as gardens and parks
- roadsides
Look-alikes
- Althea officinalis is larger and hard to confuse with this small plant
- Glechoma hederacea leaves resemble Malva neglecta’s but their upper surfaces are hairy and smell minty and the stems are square
Poisonous Look-alikes
- none
Food Uses
Parts Used
flowers, fruits/berries, leaves
Main Uses
Potherb, Salad
Nutrition
- vitamin C, iron, calcium, copper
Cooking
- leaves, flowers, and fruits, which cook in about 10 minutes, impart a pleasant, mild flavor to stews, grain dishes, and casseroles
- thicken soups slightly.
- fine raw, in salads.
- devour the fruits right off the plants
Recipes
Harvesting
Harvesting Season
- early spring to late fall
- all year where winters are very mild.
Harvesting Methods
- Hold down the stems with one hand and strip of leaves, flowers, and fruit with the other.