Malva olbia (L.) Alef.

Woody shrub up to 2 m high, branched from base; stems densely clothed in stellate hairs when young, becoming ± glabrous when older. Lvs densely hairy with stellate and simple hairs; lower lvs 3–5-palmately lobed, broadly ovate, crenate, up to c. 10 cm diam.; upper lvs not lobed and ovate to oblong, or 3-lobed with mid-lobe much longer, crenate, 2–8 cm long; petioles 1–8 cm long; stipules ovate-triangular, 5–8 mm long. Fls axillary, solitary; fruiting pedicels 6–20 mm long; epicalyx segments ovate-acuminate, united for lower ?-1/2, c. ⅔ length of calyx, unchanged at fruiting; calyx campanulate; calyx teeth ± = or slightly < tube, ovate-triangular, acuminate, densely clothed in stellate hairs, ± unchanged at fruiting; petals deep pink, 25–35 mm long. Mericarps c. 18–25 per fr., ± glabrous or sparsely hairy, smooth on back except for a single low longitudinal rib; edges rounded.

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

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.