COMMENTS ON MALVA ROTUNDIFOLIA L. 

 AND ITS ALLIES 



H. F. Bergman 



There has been some confusion as to the identity of M. rotundi- 

 folia L., and some of its related forms as becomes apparent by a 

 careful study of herbarium specimens and by an analysis of descrip- 

 tions in manuals. M. rotiindifoUa L., and M. horealis Wallm., are 

 easily confused because of great similarity, but M. borealis and M. 

 parviflora L., are confused frequently also, although quite diverse 

 in character. 



In part, this confusion is due to the incompleteness of the de- 

 scriptions of these species, the difference in size of flowers, number 

 of carpels, markings and pubescence of carpels, if observed, having 

 been regarded as variations unworthy of recognition. However, 

 there are definite correlations of characters distinguishing each 

 species, a fact that has long been recognized by European botanists. 



Just what Linne's type of Malva rotundifolia may have been is 

 uncertain, but European botanists agree well on the characterization 

 of the species. Although it appears often in literature under the 

 names M. neglecta Wallr., and M. vulgaris Fr., the identity of these 

 with M. rotundifolia is evident from the descriptions, and is also 

 established by the frequent citation of these as synonyms oiM. 

 rotundifolia. 



M. borealis Wallm.. is often mistaken for M. rotundifolia, and, 

 although the species seem to have been quite generally recognized 

 in European manuals, there has been difficulty in the correct appli- 

 cation of names. Blytt, in Norges Flora 3 : 1077, describes both M. 

 rotundifolia and M. horealis, and points out carefully the distinction 

 between them as follows: "From the following, it [M. rotundifolia^ 

 is separated by the following characters : The involucral bracts 

 linear-lanceolate, shorter than the sepals which are stellate-pubes- 

 cent as is also the pedicel. Petals white or pink with darker veins. 



