Malva trimestris (L.) Salisb.

Annual up to 1.5 m high, branched or not from base. Stems moderately hairy in younger parts with simple or few-rayed deflexed hairs, becoming ± glabrous and slightly woody toward base when older. Lvs sparsely hairy with mostly simple hairs above and mostly stellate hairs below; lower lvs ovate-triangular to suborbicular, cordate at base, not lobed, crenate, 2–7 cm long; upper lvs shallowly 3–5-palmately lobed or ± entire, crenate; petioles 2–7 cm long; stipules triangular, 3–6 mm long. Fls axillary, solitary; fruiting pedicels 2–10 cm long; epicalyx segments broadly triangular, united for almost entire length, 1/2–3/4 length of calyx, distinctly enlarged and spreading at fruiting; calyx campanulate; calyx teeth ± = tube, triangular to ovate-triangular, acute to acuminate, finely clothed in stellate hairs, ± connivent at fruiting; petals pink or mauve, 20–35 mm long. Mericarps c. 12 per fr., obscured by axis, glabrous, transverse-reticulately veined on back; edges rounded.

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

Flowering: Nov.–May.