Little Mallow. Malva parviflora, Mallow Family ( Malvaceae ), Little Mallow: Also called: Cheeseweed, Alkali Mallow, or Small-Whorl Mallow. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. 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. Quick Notes: Height: Up To about 3 - 4 feet tall. Spreads up to about 6 feet wide. Flowers: 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. Flowering Time: Year - Round, Especially January - April. They reflower from August to frost, in response to the summer rains. Seed Pods & 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. Leaves: Green, alternate, palmately lobed. Found: Native to Northern Africa, Europe and Asia and is widely naturalised in the USA (AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, KS, LA, MA, MD, MO, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, SC, TX, WA, WY). Also found in Canada (AB, BC, MB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK). Also found in northern Sonora, Chihuahua, & Coahuila in Mexico. Hardiness: USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: 0 - 6,000 Feet. Habitat: 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, Arizona.

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