Musk Mallow is a
native
perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in grassland, hedgerows and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 100cm.
Musk Mallow is distinguished from other mallows by: its relatively short height (up to 1 metre); sparsely-hairy green stems; palm-shaped and deeply-divided lobed leaves; and pastel, cup-shaped flowers with notched petals. The flowers of Musk Mallow have a musky scent, giving rise to its name, and it can be used to create Ambrette, which was once used as a substitute for animal musk in perfumes.
Botanic classification and naming: Musk Mallow is a member of the Mallow (Malvaceae) family. The genus name
'Malva' identifies the plant as a Mallow and its species name 'moschata' means 'musk-scented plant'.
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