Malva nicaeensis All.

Annual or short-lived perennial, procumbent, ascending or erect herb. Stems sparsely to moderately hairy with usually simple hairs. Lvs glabrous to sparsely hairy with usually simple hairs and rarely stellate hairs above, sparsely to moderately hairy below, reniform to orbicular, obtuse to cordate at base, shallowly or moderately 5–7-palmately lobed and crenate, 1–10–(15) cm diam.; petioles 1–20–(30) cm long; stipules broadly ovate with acute apex, 2–8 mm long. Fls in axillary clusters of (1)–2–6; fruiting pedicels 2–10–(15) mm long; epicalyx segments narrowly ovate-oblong to broadly ovate, ± = calyx at flowering; calyx teeth broadly ovate-triangular, sparsely hairy with simple or stellate hairs and ciliate on teeth but lower tube ± glabrous, slightly enlarged at fruiting; petals pale lilac or pink with darker veins and tips, about 2× length of calyx, 6–10 mm long. Mericarps 8–9–(10) per fr., often hairy when immature but usually becoming glabrous, strongly reticulately veined on back; edges sharply angled but not winged.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Aug.–May.