365 Urban Species. #161: Common Mallow

[urbpan]

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.

Comments

[bunrab.livejournal.com]

So that's what that is!

[punkydolly.livejournal.com]

I can confirm that it's invasive, having once been given the job of ridding someones lawn of the stuff...

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the plant is referred to as "cheese" due to the shape of its edible seeds

"Cheeses" in the plural, actually.

Question

[(Anonymous)]

which areas are this weed found?
Can this weed be a flower?

Re: Question

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

The plant has a cosmopolitan distribution, and likes open sunny areas.

Its flower is fairly small, but it can be deliberately planted as a ground cover. To my knowledge that's not very popular any more, since it is mainly considered a weed or even invasive.

Common Mallow Recipe - really, it's delicious!

[(Anonymous)]

I've recently been taught this lovely common mallow recipe (http://thislittlegreenbook.blogspot.com/2010/06/edible-flower-recipes-part-1-common.html) and wanted to share it here. Thanks for you post, if you enjjoy this recipe as much as I enjoyed your post then i'll be very happy indeed! Thanks, Oni

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Stumbled across this while googling common mallow, as it's my newest obsession (I'm currently drinking a cup of mallow-mint tea, having just sprayed the whole family with mallow hair detangling spray), and I'm thrilled to find someone still using LJ regularly who posts useful info, so I added you!