Description

• Malvastrum coromandelianum, commonly known as false mallow, broomweed, or prickly malvastrum, is an erect or spreading annual or perennial herb in the mallow family (Malvaceae). Its branching stems are often covered in fine hairs, and its alternate, oval to lance-shaped leaves have toothed margins and pointed tips. The small, five-petalled flowers are yellow to orange-yellow and grow singly or in clusters near the ends of the branches and in the leaf axils. The fruit is a segmented, disc-shaped structure that separates into small sections, each containing a seed.

Range

• Malvastrum coromandelianum is native to tropical and subtropical America, including Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. It has spread widely to other tropical and subtropical regions and is naturalized in many countries. It is established in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• It grows in warm, sunny, seasonally dry environments, including grasslands, scrub, tropical forest margins, roadsides, pastures, cultivated fields, and disturbed ground. It tolerates drought and a range of soil conditions, often thriving in open areas where competing vegetation is limited. Its abundant seed production helps it persist in disturbed habitats.