Malva multiflora (Cav.) Soldano, Banfi & Galasso

Stout annual to biennial up to 2 m high but frequently smaller, often branched from base.  Stems densely clothed in stellate hairs when young, becoming ± glabrous and often woody at base when older.  Lvs densely clothed in stellate hairs when young, becoming sparsely so when older, suborbicular, cordate to obtuse at base, shallowly 3–5-palmately lobed and crenate or serrate, 1–15 cm diam.;  petioles 1–15 cm long;  stipules ovate-triangular, 3–6 mm long.  Fls in axillary clusters of (1)–2–6–(8);  fruiting pedicels 5–25 mm long;  epicalyx segments ovate to broadly ovate, united for lower 1/4, c. ⅔-4/5 length of calyx, unchanged at fruiting;  calyx shallowly campanulate;  calyx teeth ± = tube, ovate, acuminate, densely clothed in stellate hairs, usually ± connivent at fruiting;  petals lilac or pink with darker veins, (8)–10–18 mm long.  Mericarps 8–10 per fr., glabrous, ± smooth or faintly ribbed on back and with a single low longitudinal rib;  edges usually rounded, rarely ± sharply angled.  

[From:  Webb et al.  (1985) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4 as Lavatera cretica L.]