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Lavatera trimestris

Common name:   Family: Malvaceae
Author: L. Botanical references: 50, 200
Synonyms:  
Known Hazards: None known
Range: Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat: Sandy areas, mainly by the sea.
Edibility Rating (1-5): 2Medicinal Rating (1-5):0

Other Possible Synonyms:From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
L. rosea[H]
Other Common Names:From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
Annual Mallow [P], Annual-mallow [B], Royal Mallow [L],
Epithets:From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
ater = black; trimestris = of 3 months;
Systematics:From a USDA Plants Database
Order: Malvales. Mallow family

Physical Characteristics

Annual growing to 0.75m by 0.45m at a fast rate. . It is in flower from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. It is noted for attracting wildlife. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Young leaves - cooked[177].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Oil.

The seed contains up to 11.7% oil. It is greenish coloured with an iodine value of 120.9[74]. The uses of this oil are not given, it is exceedingly unlikely to be poisonous and is therefore probably edible[K].

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil[1]. Prefers a light well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[200]. A soil that is too rich encourages foliar growth at the expense of flowering[200]. Tolerates maritime exposure[200]. Succeeds in dry soils. Plants are moderately fast-growing[188].
A very ornamental plant[1]. The cut flowers last a long time in water[200].
A good bee plant[74].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in the spring[200]. Germination should take place within a few weeks.

Cultivars

''
There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

References for lavatera trimestris (a possible synonym).

References for the family Malvaceae.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[74] Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers Comments

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
  Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Lavatera+trimestris
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lavatera+trimestris

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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.

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