Malva selvatica (Malva sylvestris L., Malvaceae)
seen from Croatia

seen from Sweden

seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
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seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
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seen from Poland

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seen from United Kingdom

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Malva selvatica (Malva sylvestris L., Malvaceae)
#Paleostream 14/02/2026
this week's #Paleostream was a Valentine's Day special where we drew fossil angiosperms!
this week we drew Florissantia (i drew F. quilchenensis), Lovellea, Leguminocarpum olmensis, and Sagaria
Hibiscus moscheutos / Swamp Rose Mallow
Guichenotia macrantha
This is an example of a plant in the Malvaceae (the Mallow Family, or Hibiscus Family) native to Australia. Like so many of the Australian plants we grow at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, it comes from the winter-rainfall region in Western Australia (in this case, to the north and east of Perth). Its fuzzy cut-leaf foliage and delicate lavender-pink lantern-like flowers make it a delightful garden subject.
-Brian
Here's a plant that you're not likely to see outside of the Southwestern US or Baja California: Malacothamnus, the bush mallow. Although fairly recognizable at the genus level, they're extremely hard to ID to species. They're typically found in very early successional areas that have experienced recent fire. This plant, from the San Gorgonio wilderness, was growing in an area heavily burned in the 2016 Valley Fire.
Because several species of Malacothamnus are endangered and as a whole they're so challenging to tell apart, it's best to avoid disturbing them, whenever possible.
A Rain-drenched Ceiba
Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.
Showy but wet Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa) flowers in the Gardens by the Bay.
Hollyhock - Maeve McCarthy , 2022.
Irish.b.1964 -
Oil on linen , 200 x 120 cm.
Loving the Light
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis enjoying a sunny day in the Gardens by the Bay. Photo credit: Eleanor Chua.