Found in Ringer Park, Allston Mass.

( two pictures )

365 Urban Species. #161: Common Mallow

Location: Ringer Park, Allston.

Urban species #161: Common mallow Malva neglecta

Common mallow is one of those weeds that is familiar to many people, but may not be known by name. It is native to Eurasia, but is found nearly everywhere as a common weed of sidewalks and garden edges. It may have been introduced deliberately, as an herb, or just as likely snuck over in garden soil. The greens of the plant are rich in mucilage (sounds delicious) and were used as a treatment for sore throat. Sometimes the plant is referred to as "cheeses" due to the shape of its edible seeds (round).

Common mallow may be weakly invasive, and is reported as such by authorities in Tennessee and Nevada. It is given "weed status" in many more states. Usually the plant starts out small and innocuous, but spreads out to cover a great deal of ground. Often it is encountered in mixed groups of other weeds, such as cinquefoil, dandelion, pineapple weed, and so on.