Malvella

Malvella
Malvella leprosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Malvoideae
Tribe: Malveae
Genus: Malvella
Jaub. & Spach
Species

Four; see text

Synonyms[1]

Disella Greene

Malvella is a small genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. There are four species, one native to the Mediterranean, and three native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The plants were formerly classified in genus Sida.[2]

Description

These are generally perennial herbs, sometimes annual, growing in a prostrate or decumbent form. They are coated with star-shaped or scaly hairs. The silvery-haired leaves have asymmetrical blades. Flowers grow singly in the leaf axils. They are whitish or yellow, fading pink. The fruit is a capsule with 7 to 10 segments that do not break apart.[3]

Species

Four species are accepted.[1][4]

  • Malvella lepidota (A.Gray) Fryxell – scurfy mallow
  • Malvella leprosa (Ortega) Krapov. – alkali mallow
  • Malvella sagittifolia (A.Gray) Fryxell – arrowleaf mallow
  • Malvella sherardiana (L.) Jaub. & Spach

References

  1. ^ a b "Malvella Jaub. & Spach". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  2. ^ Hinsley, S. R. The Malvella page. Malvaceae.info.
  3. ^ Malvella. The Jepson eFlora 2013.
  4. ^ Malvella. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).