Flora of New Zealand Series

Californian mallow

Woody shrub up to 2-(4) m high, much-branched from base. Stems clothed in very fine stellate hairs when young, becoming ± glabrous when older. Lvs densely clothed in fine stellate hairs, triangular to suborbicular, cordate to obtuse at base, (3)-5-7-palmately lobed to c. 1/2 radius, coarsely crenate, 2-15-(20) cm diam.; petioles 3-15 cm long; stipules triangular, 3-5 mm long, deciduous. Fls in axillary clusters of 1-4-(5); fruiting pedicels 20-50 mm long; epicalyx segments ovate-triangular, united for lower ⅓, usually c. 1/2 as long as calyx, unchanged at fruiting; calyx long-tubular; calyx teeth much < tube, triangular, acuminate, densely clothed in stellate hairs, somewhat recurved at fruiting; petals magenta with darker veins, 30-40 mm long. Mericarps 7-9 per fr., glabrous or sparsely to moderately hairy, smooth on back, but a single low longitudinal rib usually present; edges sharply angled or slightly rounded.

S.: locally established on the E. coast from Marlborough to Otago.

Islands off the coast of S. California 1940

Coastal waste places, gravels, sands, or cliffs.

FL Jan-Dec.

California mallow is cultivated and persists at old house sites as well as being truly naturalised. The sp. is distinguished by the long-tubular calyx (Fig. 81).