Malva parviflora aka Egyptian Mallow

Malva parviflora is an annual herb in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its common names include least mallow, Egyptian mallow, and cheeseweed. Its range spans southern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. Much of this range lies around the Mediterranean Sea. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. People have introduced it to many temperate and tropical regions. It now grows wild in parts of North America.

The plant grows upright from a long, thin taproot. It usually makes one stem, though some plants make several. The stems often remain unbranched. Garden references give heights of about 1–1.6 feet [0.3–0.5 metres]. A wider recorded range reaches 0.16–2.6 feet [0.05–0.8 metres]. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. The fruits open to release their seeds.

This mallow grows in fields, waste ground, and grassland. It also occurs near woods and beside ponds and lakes. In gardens, it grows well in ordinary soil. It prefers sun, good drainage, and a moderate nutrient supply. It can also grow in light shade. Sandy soil, loam, and clay can all suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline ground. It prefers moist soil and is described as frost hardy. The supplied sources give no hardiness zone or bloom season.

People gather this plant for food and traditional medicine. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked as greens. Their mild taste suits salads as well as cooked dishes. Young seeds can also be eaten raw or cooked. They have a nutty taste and can go into soup. Their small size makes large harvests hard work. Traditional uses include poultices and preparations for coughs and skin complaints. These records describe uses, not proof that treatments work. The plant and seed heads also yield cream, yellow, and green dyes. Roots or leaves have served in hair rinses.

Rust fungus can attack this species, though rabbits tend to leave it alone. It can become a weed in cultivated ground. Sources disagree on its weed status, so local spread deserves attention. Neither food-use source reports confirmed toxicity for this species. Both flag nitrate buildup in some mallows on nitrogen-rich soil. That warning does not establish this species as poisonous.