Malva parviflora L.
Family: Malvaceae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
none
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
little mallow, cheeseweed
Primary Disseminule Type
fruit segment
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Fruit a disk-shaped schizocarp 6–7 mm diameter (not including calyx), glabrous or minutely hairy, wrinkled, bottom (next to calyx) prminently ridged in a reticulate pattern, typically with persistent sepals, consisting of 8–12 wedge-shaped segments (mericarps) that separate at maturity.
Mericarp tightly contains a single seed, is indehiscent, and has margins that are sharply angled and slightly winged and sometimes toothed. When positioned on one of its flat sides, diameter is 2+ mm and thickness varies from ca. 0.5 mm on the thinner edge to 2 mm on the thicker edge.
Seed rounded comma-shaped in outline, prominently notched along margin where hilum occurs, compressed (thickened along the margin opposite the hilum and usually with a rounded, concave area on each face, creating a bilobed cross-section), 1.5–2 mm diameter x 1.2–1.5 mm thick. Surface reddish-brown, finely wrinkled at high magnification.
Hilum marginal in notch, covered by a funicular remnant that partially breaks away from the seed at maturity to form a flap.
Embryo folded.
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, AUWP, NZBORIC, NZBPI