The plant is 20 cm tall. The flowers are some 12 cm long and the collective fruit (the circle of achenes) is 10 mm in diameter. Fruits are covered with soft hairs, the plant has some not dense hairs. Leaves are 15x10 mm, lobate.
It was collected in Split (S Croatia).
good greeting
Follow the link below
https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/malva/alcea/
Thank you Azhar,
Malva alcea seems to be a big herb with leaves much more divided. My plant was rather small and short, the leaves are at most trilobate. I am currently suspecting Malva hispanica, having followed this identification key for Mediterranean herbs:
http://www.mittelmeerflora.de/Zweikeim/Malvaceae/2_auskelch.htm
Malva has been used medicinally since ancient times, and is still used in modern phytotherapy. Mucilage is present in many of the Malvaceae family including M. sylvestris, especially the fruit. The seeds are used internally in a decoction or herbal as a demulcent and diuretic, and the leaves made into poultices as an emollient for external applications. Mallow can also be taken internally for its laxative effect
There grow 8 species of Malva in Croatia, but M. hispanica is not included among them. If it belongs to Malva (3 bracts of epicalyx are free), it could be only Malva sylvestris. But if is the epicalyx is accrete at base, it would be Lavatera cretica. The epicalyx is not well visible in the pictures.
Michal,
Thank you for this hint very much. I must check the specimen again.
It is Malva sylvestris L. of family Malvaceae. Please have a look at the following RG links.
Article Flora and vegetation of Sveti Andrija island, southern Croatia
Article Taxonomic Composition of Pasture Flora on Ćićarija (Istria, Croatia)
Article New records of vascular plants for the Island of Mljet (Sout...
Chapter Wild Food Plants of Dalmatia (Croatia)
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