Malva neglecta

Malva neglecta is a species of plant of the family Malvaceae, native to most of the Old World except sub-Saharan Africa. It is an annual growing to 0.6 m. It is known as common mallow in the United States and also as buttonweed, cheeseplant, cheeseweed, dwarf mallow, and roundleaf mallow.
This plant is often consumed as a food, with its leaves, stalks and seed all being considered edible. This is especially true of the seeds, which contain 21% protein and 15.2% fat.

Description

Dwarf mallow is a prostrate, downy, herbaceous plant, growing to approximately.
The leaves are alternate with long, strongly channeled petioles, up to, and narrowly triangular stipules.
It is a broadleaf winter annual that also persists through a biennial or perennial life cycle if environmental conditions are favorable.
Each leaf is reniform or with 5–7 shallow lobes, the basal leaves are.
It grows a tough taproot.
The flowers are single-stalked and occur in clusters of 2–5 in the leaf axils.
The flower stalks are shorter than the leaf stalks, with the leaves partially obscuring the flowers.
The fruits are schizocarps, which split into 10–12 mericarps and are smooth and hairy.
After introduction into Canada, common mallow was found to be freezing tolerant, retaining the capacity for
photosynthesis and respiration after long periods of exposure to subfreezing temperatures.

Life Cycle

Malva neglecta exibits six age states: seedlings, juveniles, immatures, virginals, young generatives, and middle-aged generatives. Seedling leaf blades are pubescent below and along the edge. Juvenile plants have a solitary shoot and rounded leaves with wavy toothed edges. Immature plants show kidney-shaped leaves with jagged edges. Virginile plants present rosettes of 3-5 rounded heart-shaped leaves. Young generative plants develop solitary white or light pink flowers. Branching of the generative shoot is observed in Middle-aged plants.
While young leaves and stems are green, mature leaves and lower stems vary from green to purple in color.

Ecology

Acyrthosiphon Malvae

Although the ecology is more complex, in the Thames valley, Acyrthosiphon Malvae is the common aphid found feeding on common mallow.

Distribution

;Native
Source:

Uses

The plant has 1-Octacosanol, Ascorbic, Choline, alkaloids, and saponin It has a high nitrate content, similar to that of arugula. The flowers contain tannins.

Therapeutic

A common traditionally used medicinal plant, used for catarrh, enteritis, sore throat, hoarse voice, and as an expectorant.
A lab study has shown that the plant is good for stomach ulcers

Seeds

The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked and have a nutty flavor. Mature seeds can be cooked like rice or grains.
In the past, seeds were ground into flour in times of need.

Root

The root can be ground and used as a meringue substitute
by boiling in water, simmering until thickened, and then whisked like egg whites.

Leaves

Leaves are useful in salads, can be eaten raw, and contain Vitamin C, significant protein and mineral content.
In culinary applications, it is cooked similar to spinach, or used for thickening soups, as the leaves release a thickening agent similar to okra which is also in the mallow family. In Morocco leaves are known as Bakola or Khobiza, braised as a side dish or used as a sauce over couscous.
In Jewish and Egyptian cooking, leaves are made into a stew called Mulukhiyah.