MALLOW— EVENING PRIMROSE 31 



Mallow (Malva rotundifolia L.) 



Other common names. — Common mallow, low mallow, dwarf 

 mallow, blue mallow, country mallow, running mallow, Dutch cheese, 

 doll cheese, fairy cheese, and cheeses. 



Description. — The mallow is an annual, biennial, or even peren- 

 nial. It is a relative of the hollyhock, which it somewhat resembles, 

 though much smaller in size. It was introduced from Europe but 

 is now commonly found in all parts of this State in waste places, gar- 

 dens, lawns, and fields. The plant flowers almost throughout the season 

 and matures seeds during the latter part of July. It has a deep tap 

 root from which branch spreading stems that are often thirty inches 

 long. The pale blue, rose-colored, or white flowers are borne in clus- 

 ters in the axils of the long-stalked, round or heart-shaped leaves. 

 The seeds of this plant are produced in a sort of a circle which has 

 the appearance of a cheese. This accounts for the name, cheeses, 

 which is often given to this plant. The plant is propagated mainly 

 by the seeds, which are very seldom found in commercial seed. 



Eradication. — Mallow is a common dooryard weed, but usually 

 not troublesome on cultivated land. It may be destroyed by bringing 

 the land under cultivation or by seeding it thickly to grass. 



Evening Primrose (Onagra biennis L.) 



Other common names. — Common evening primrose, tree prim- 

 rose, four-o'clock, coffee plant, fever plant, large rampion, and night 

 willow herb. 



Description. — The evening primrose is a biennial native of this 

 country. It is found both in waste places and in cultivated fields, as 

 it thrives in either dry or moist soils. The flowers of evening prim- 

 rose appear in June and the seeds are mature about the last of Sep- 

 tember. The flowers are particularly attractive, being of a bright 

 yellow color, opening towards the end of the day and closing next 

 morning. Many of them, however, remain open during the day. 

 The flower develops into a long, tapering, four-celled fruit which is 

 somewhat capsular in shape. When the fruit is ripe, this capsule 

 breaks open and the small, dark reddish brown, four-angled seeds 

 are shaken out by the wind. The evening primrose is propagated 

 almost entirely by seeds, which are most commonly found in alsike 

 clover, white clover, blue grass, lawn and other grasses. 



Eradication. — When evening primrose appears in meadows or 

 clover fields, the plants should be removed with a spud. In grain 



