Malva punctata

Malva punctata reaches on average of height. The stem is erect and covered with scattered hairs. The leaves are alternate, trilobed with the central lobe larger than the others, petiolate with stipules, the lowest are kidney-shaped and slightly lobed, while the upper ones are pentagonal. The flowers grow in the axils of the leaves. Calyx is campanulate, five-lobed, with five triangular pink petals with purple veins, of about , three times longer than the calyx. The flowering period extends from May through June. ==Distribution==

Plant of western Mediterranean origin is distributed from the South of France and Italy to Albania, Greece, Palestine, Israel, Asia Minor and Turkey. ==Habitat==

These plants grow at an altitude of above sea level. They prefer rocky soils in sunny areas and fallow fields, hedgerows, beds of streams and road margins. == Botanical gallery ==

Photos from Antalya except where indicated File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 21.jpg|General appearance File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 05.jpg|General appearance File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 16.jpg|General appearance File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 17.jpg|General appearance File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 12.jpg|Flowers File:Malvaceae - Lavatera punctata-2.JPG|Flowers, bolder coloured (Italy) File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 15.jpg|Inflorescence with upper leaves File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 06.jpg|Flowers showing 5-part calyx, with outer 3-part epicalyx (the 3 parts broad) File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 03.jpg|Unopened flowers showing 5-part calyx and 3-broad-part epicalyx File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 20.jpg|Flower, side File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 07.jpg|Flower centre File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 08.jpg|Floral organs File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 19.jpg|Floral organs File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 09.jpg|Underside showing 5-part calyx and 3-broad-part epicalyx File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 01.jpg|Stems stellate-haired File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 02.jpg|Annual plant base File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 10.jpg|Leaf upperside File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 11.jpg|Leaf upperside File:Malvaceae_-_Lavatera_punctata.JPG|Leaf Upperside (Italy) File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 14.jpg|Leaf underside File:Malva punctata Lavatera punctata in Antalya by David Merrick 13.jpg|Leaf underside (may be less hairy) ==References==