Plants annual or perennial herbs with stellate hairs. Leaves stipulate; stipules triangular to falcate; blades entire to deeply lobed. Inflorescences axillary clusters of flowers. Epicalyces with 3 linear to ovate bracts; calyces 5-lobed; ovaries with 8-15 cells arranged around a central column, each cell with 1 ovule; styles as many as the ovary cells. Fruits discoid schizocarps; mericarps more or less reniform, flatttened, indehsicent, smooth or variously scuptured.
Malva is an Old World genus of about 30 species. It grows primarily in temperate and subtropical regions. Some species are widespread weeds, others are cultivated as ornamentals.
Note: GBIF records include introduced and cultivated plants. Consequently, the distribution shown often differs from statements about a taxon's native distribution.