Copper or narrow-leaved globemallow Copper or narrow-leaved globemallow

Malva angustifolia Cavanilles, Diss. 2: 64, plate 20, fig. 3. 1786

Plants perennial. Stems erect, green to gray-green, (3–)6–20 dm, grayish stellate-hairy. Leaf blades green to gray-green, linear to linear-lanceolate or lanceolate to broadly trullate, unlobed to hastately lobed to angulate, if lobed, center lobe elongate, not deeply dissected, (1.5–)3.5–10(–15) cm, not rugose, base cuneate, margins finely dentate to crenate, surfaces stellate-pubescent. Inflorescences paniculate, crowded, flowers clustered, tip usually leafy with distinct mature subtending leaves throughout; involucellar bractlets green to tan. Flowers: sepals 5–9 mm; petals mauve, lavender, red, red-orange, pink, or white, 8–15 mm; anthers yellow or purple. Schizocarps ovoid or truncate-conic; mericarps 9–15, 3.5–7 × 1.5–2 mm, chartaceous, nonreticulate dehiscent part 65–85% of height, muticous to cuspidate, indehiscent part not wider than dehiscent part. Seeds 2 per mericarp, brown to black, pubescent.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): w, c United States, Mexico.

Lower Taxa

• Sphaeralcea angustifolia var. angustifolia
• Sphaeralcea angustifolia var. oblongifolia (A. Gray) Shinners