Malvaceae

M. sylvestris L., Sp. PL 689 (1753). Syn: M. mauritiana L., loc. cit.; M. sylvestris var. mauritiana (L.) Boiss., Fl. Or. 1: 819 (1867); M. ambigua Guss., Fl. Sic. Pr. 2: 321 (1828). Ic: Reichb., Ic. Fl. Germ. 5: t. 168 (1840); Yakar, Renk. Türk. Bitk. Atl. 2: t. 29 (1965).
Perennial to biennial. Stems erect or ascending, spreading pilose with tuber-culate hairs. Leaves ± orbicular, 5-7-lobed, crenate, sparsely pilose to glabrous. Flowers in fascicles in the leaf axils, and in clusters at the branch apices. Epicalyx segments ± linear to oblong or narrowly ovate. Sepals broadly triangular, 3-7 mm. Petals 18-25 mm, 4 or more x longer than the sepals, mauve to pink, emarginate or shallowly 3-5-fid. Mericarps glabrous or hairy (var. eriocarpa Boiss.), ± fiat on the back, rugose. Fl. 5-10. Scrub, fields, open places, s.1.-500 m.
Described from Europe (Hb. Linn. 870/22!).
A1(E) Tekirdağ: between Çorlu and Seymen, 50 m, Dudley, D. 34504! A1(A) Çanakkale: Erenköy, S int. 1883: 189! A2(E) Istanbul: Rumelihisari, 13 v 1918 B. Post ! A2(A) Istanbul: Beykoz, 1912, Post! A3 Zonguldak: Zonguldak to Çaycuma, 450 m, D. 37652! A5 Amasya: between Samsun and Amasya, 350-500 m, Bornm. 1899: 192. A8 Çoruh: nr. Ardanuç (Grossheim 6: map 173). Bl Izmir: Bergama, Dudley, D. 34836! B4 Ankara: Ankara, Bornm. 1892: 3019. B8 Erzurum: Erzurum, Zohrab! C2 Denizli: Honaz Da., 1150-1190 m, Hııb.-Mor. 17023! C3 Antalya: Antalya, 30 m, Tengwall 226! C4 Konya: Ermenek, 1872, Péronini! C6 Hatay: Soğuk Oluk, Reese. Is: Lesvos, Rech. 5539! Samos, Fors.-Maj. 692; Khios, Platt 170! Ikaria, Rech. 4201; Leros, Desio; Kalimnos, Fors.-Maj. 692; Rodhos, Fiöri 311.
Europe, N. Africa, S.W. Asia. Very variable in size and indumentum. Very similar in general appearance to Lavatera cretica (q.v.).