Malva meluca
| Malva meluca | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 4' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Malva meluca
Propagation: Seed - sow early spring in situ. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.
Cultivation: A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[1], though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[2].
This species has been cultivated for the fibre contained in its stems[3][4].
This species is considered to be no more than a form of M. verticillata by some botanists[5].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[6].
Prone to infestation by rust fungus[2].
Range: Southern S. America.
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked. A mild pleasant flavour.
Seed - raw or cooked. Best used before it is fully mature, the seed has a pleasant nutty taste but it is rather small and fiddly to harvest[K].
Usage: A fibre obtained from the stems is a jute substitute[3][4].
The seed contains up to 20% oil, it is used for making soap[4].
Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads[7].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although we have seen no reports of toxicity for this species, when grown on nitrogen rich soils (and particularly when these are cultivated inorganically), the leaves of some species tend to concentrate high levels of nitrates in their leaves[8]. The le
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References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.