Malvastrum Species, Threelobe False Mallow

Threelobe false mallow, three-lobed false mallow, prickly malvastrum (Malvastrum coromandelianum) is an introduced plant that can be foun...Read Mored naturalized in Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is native to Asia. Threelobe false mallow is an annual or perennial depending upon the location in which it is growing and has a tuberous root. It is considered a subshrub due to its branches becoming woody with age. The yellow to yellowish-orange flowers are produced singly in the leaf axils. Threelobe false mallow, prickly malvastrum (Malvastrum coromandelianum) seed pods (3–4 mm long, 5–7 mm wide) have 10-14 segments. Each segment has a shortly awned apex and two smaller lateral awns (slender bristle-like appendages). This species is similar to Sida spp. but is distinguished by the presence of epicalyx bracts (rings of modified leaves that look like an extra calyxes at the bases of the flowers as also seen in strawberries). In the Rio Grande area of Texas, it serves as a caterpillar food for Red-Crescent Scrub-Hair, Tropical Checkered-Skipper.