Common Name: Cheeseweed

General Information

Malva parviflora is an erect, annual plant producing one (occasionally several), usually unbranched stems from a long, thin taproot; it can gro 5 - 80cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Known Hazards

Although we have seen no reports of toxicity for this species, when grown on nitrogen rich soils (and particularly when these are cultivated inorganically), the leaves of some species tend to concentrate high levels of nitrates in their leaves[]. The leaves are perfectly wholesome at all other times.

Botanical References

Range

Southern Europe, mainly Mediterranean; northern Africa; eastern Mediterranean; western Asia - Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan.

Habitat

Fields and waste land[]. Grasslands, at forest edges, in woodland, on heavily grazed grassland, sometimes on stony hills, at edges of ponds and lakes and easily becoming a weed in cultivation, at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Malva parviflora is more heat-tolerant than most Malva species[].
A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[], though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[].
Malva parviflora has been commonly introduced in many parts of the world, both temperate and tropical. It has become naturalized in some parts of N. America, where it is especially common as a weed from California to Texas, and is also found in tropical east Africa and several Pacific Islands[, , ].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
Plants are prone to infestation by rust fungus[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb[, , , ]. A mild pleasant flavour, they make a very acceptable alternative to lettuce in salads[].

Immature seeds - raw or cooked[, ]. They are used to make a creamed vegetable soup that resembles pea soup[]. A few leaves are also added for colouring[]. The seeds have a pleasant nutty flavour, though they are too small for most people to want to collect in quantity[].

Medicinal

The whole plant is emollient and pectoral[, ]. It can be used as a poultice on swellings, running sores and boils[].

The seeds are demulcent[]. They are used in the treatment of coughs and ulcers in the bladder[].

A decoction of the roots or leaves has been used as a hair rinse to remove dandruff and to soften the hair[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A serious weed of agriculture, when growing well it is also seen as an indicator of fertile soils[].

Other Uses

The seed contains up to 18% of a fatty oil[]. The seeds contain about 13% of a light greenish oil, with iodine number 113.8[]. No more details are given, though the oil is likely to be edible[].

Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads[].

A decoction of the roots or leaves has been used as a hair rinse to soften the hair[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.

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