Malvaceae . . . . Mallows

Other genera that may occur as casuals or garden-escapes include: Abutilon, Hibiscus, Hoheria, Sida and Sidalcea

Select from:


Also included are Limes

Alcea . . . . . Hollyhock

Alcea rosea . . . . Hollyhock

Can self-seed and escape; the variety (often yellow) with deeply divided lvs (pic. 2) is sometimes referred to as A. ficifolia but is normally included in this sp.

Althaea . . . . . Marsh-mallow

Althaea officinalis . . . . Marsh-mallow

Rather local in brackish ditches around the coasts in S Br and Guernsey; N.B. has only stellate hairs (c.f. Malva)

With rather similar fls, but shorter and with divided lvs is Musk-mallow

Malva . . . . . Mallows

Go to Key to Mallows:

Malva alcea . . . . . Greater Musk-mallow

Grassy and waste places C & S Br; note broad epicalyx segments cf. Musk Mallow (see below); often hairier with stellate hairs

Somewhat similar fls are found in these 2 spp.
Musk-mallow
Marsh-mallow
M. moschata
Althaea officinalis

Malva arborea . . . . . Tree-mallow

Woody stems; local on coasts of CI, Ire, S & W Br

Malva moschata . . . . Musk-mallow

Throughout BI exc. N & W Sc and parts of Ire; ; distinguished from Greater Musk-mallow by the narrow epicalyx segments (arrowed); straight hairs only

Somewhat similar fls are found in these 2 spp.:
Greater Musk-mallow
Marsh-mallow
M. alcea
Althaea officinalis

Malva neglecta . . . . Dwarf Mallow

Frequent on waste ground in CI and C & S Br, scattered elsewhere; petals 9-13mm

Malva multiflora . . . . Lesser Tree-mallow

Locally frequent on waste ground near the sea in CI and Scillies (previously M. pseudolavatera or Lavatera cretica)

Malva sylvestris . . . . Common Mallow

Throughout lowland En, Wa and CI, uncommon elsewhere
Other uncommon small-fld mallows include M. parviflora (Least Mallow) with petals <5mm, and M. pusilla (Small Mallow) which has fruit stalks >1cm; a number of other spp. can occur as casuals

Tilia . . . . . Lime


The native spp. are T. cordata, T. platyphyllos and possibly T. x europaea, but all are widely planted. The most usual spp. are shown here (there are many other planted spp. not shown):

Flowers/fruit hang down         or         Flowers/fruit above lvs

Flowers/fruit hang down

T. x europaea
T. x euchlora
T. platyphyllos
T. tomentosa
nearly hairless
fine teeth, few hairs
simple hairs
star-shaped hairs

T. 'Petiolaris'
long petiole

Flowers/fruit horizontal to upward

T. cordata
lvs <c.7cm

Tilia cordata . . . . . Small-leaved Lime

Leaves less than c.8cm, fls upward-pointing; widely planted, but locally common as native in C En and Wa

Tilia platyphyllos . . . . . Large-leaved Lime

Local on base-rich soils as native but widely planted; lvs hairy underside with simple white hairs, esp. along veins

Tilia tomentosa . . . . . Silver Lime

Lvs silvery hairy underneath, with broad teeth and star-shaped hairs, fls hanging, branches point upwards; widely planted. (Pic C Hutchinson)
T. tomentosa

Tilia 'Petiolaris' . . . . . Pendent Silver Lime

Densely hairy young twigs, white lf undersides, petioles >1/2 as long as lvs, fls hanging, branches weeping; widely planted. (Pics 2 & 3 C Hutchinson)

Tilia x euchlora . . . . . Caucasian Lime

Quite widely planted as produces little honeydew, lf teeth sharp with a short bristle, largely hairless

Tilia x europaea . . . . . Common Lime

Widely planted, but native in a few places; many basal shoots