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Malvastrum lateritium

Common name:		Family:	Malvaceae
Author:	(Hook.)G.Nicholson.	Botanical references:
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Southern South America - Argentina.
Habitat:	Not known
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	ater = black lateri = side, referring to the configuration of the flowers in one-sided racemes.
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Malvales. Mallow family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen perennial growing to 0.7m by 1m . It is hardy to zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Edible Uses

Flowers Leaves.

Leaves - raw or cooked[K]. The young leaves have a pleasant mild flavour with a mucilaginous texture, they make an acceptable addition to a mixed salad[K].
Flowers - raw[K].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Ground cover.

The plant produces long trailing stems and can be used for ground cover[K].

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. One report says that it grows and flowers best in a sun-baked nitrogen-starved soil, whilst another says that it requires a rich soil to do well.
This species is not very cold tolerant, but will usually survive wnters outdoors in southern Britain.
The plant produes long trailing stems, it is a weak climber, but grows well as a creeping plant where its stems make an effective ground cover.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in early spring in a cold frame. The seed germinates quickly and easily. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in protected conditions for their first winter. Plant them out in their permanent positions in the early summer[K].
Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Cuttings of side shoots, July/August in a cold frame[111].

Suppliers

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

Web References

References for the family Malvaceae.

[CHINA] Draft Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

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.

[111] Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926
A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.

Readers Comments

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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?Malvastrum+lateritium
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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.