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- Mallow Family: Malvaceae
Alkali mallow (Malvella leprosa)
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Alkali mallow is also called alkali sida, creeping mallow, cheeseweed or whiteweed. It is a low-growing perennial (sometimes annual) plant that has deep vertical roots and an extensive system of creeping roots (rhizomes). Alkali mallow can be found throughout California up to 4200 feet (1280 m) but it is most common in the Central Valley. It is reported to be toxic to sheep.
Habitat
Orchards, agronomic crop fields, pastures, roadsides. Often associated with saline soils and can tolerate drier areas.
Seedling
Cotyledons (seed leaves) are heart-shaped.
Mature plant
Stems are erect to prostrate and densely covered with small bristly hairs. Lobed hairy leaves alternate on the stem and are 0.6 to 1.75 inches (1.5 to 4.5 cm) wide. Leaf edges are blunt-toothed and slightly wavy. New shoots grow from horizontal roots.
Flowers
Flowers from April to October. They have 5 petals that are cream to pale-yellow and 0.4 to 0.6 inch (10 to 15 mm) long.
Fruits
Disklike fruit is 0.2 to 0.3 inch (5 to 8 mm) in diameter and divided into sections. The sections are dark-brown, triangular, and vary in number from 7 to 10.
Seeds
Each fruit section contains one brown, kidney-shaped seed.
Reproduction
Reproduces by seed with germination occurring in the spring. Also reproduces vegetatively from root fragments.
