Malva verticillata var. chinensis (Mill.) S. Y. Hu

Annual, up to 1.5 m tall. Stem somewhat purplish, with weak, spreading simple and 2-rayed hairs, more densely so above. Leaves sub-orbicular, cordate at base, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 2-4.5 cm broad, 5-7 lobed; lobes serrulate to crenate dentate, sparsely simple or 2 rayed hairy above, more so beneath mixed with stellate hairs; stipules broadly lanceolate-ovate, 3-5 mm long, 2-3 mm broad, glabrous except ciliate margin; petiole 2-9 cm long, with sparse, simple, 2-rayed and sometimes stellate hairs, densely so above. Flowers 4-7 in axillary fascicles; pedicel 5-10 mm long, densely pubescent; epicalyx segments linear, 2-4 mm long, 1 mm broad, margin long ciliate, green to purple. Calyx 5 mm long, free 1/3 to middle, glabrescent, margin long ciliate, green to purple, accrescent and scarious in fruit; lobes triangular, acute, c. 2 mm broad. Petals about twice the length of sepals, pinkish, obovate, retuse, claw slightly hairy. Staminal column c. 4 mm long, retrorse hairy. Fruit discoid, c. 5 mm across, almost glabrous; mericarps 12, c. 1.5 mm across in all directions, thin walled, transversely rugose on dorsal side, rarely with median lines. Seed brown, 1 mm long and broad.

Distribution: Japan-China, Russia, Rare in Europe and Pakistan.