Malva parviflora, the cheeseweed mallow, is a weed from the mallow family (Malvaceae) which originat

Malva parviflora, the cheeseweed mallow, is a weed from the mallow family (Malvaceae) which originates from Africa, Europe, and Asia, much like the ErodiumI previously posted. It is naturalized throughout the world and where I live in California it can be commonly seen in yards, growing in cracks, fallow bits of exposed soil in industrial areas, or in roadside parking strips. Though diminutive, the flowers clearly resemble others in the family such as the hibiscuses, cottons, and the hollyhocks. This weed can be challenging to distinguish between related species, particularly due to the variable growth habit, but the fruit/seeds are a good diagnostic since Malva parviflora has a wrinkled schizocarp (a categorization of fruit with dry, fused carpels) while the most similar relative, Malva neglecta, possesses a smooth fruit.

Yet again I am presenting an invasive species which can have deleterious effects on both native plants and agriculture because it can harbor certain plant viruses and pests, competes for limited resources, and interferes with crop development and harvesting.