Plants in the malvaceae (mallow) family are characterised by alternate, stalked, palmately-lobed leaves, downy stems, and flowers of five sepals, many stamens and five petals, usually shallowly notched. Flowers form at the leaf nodes, either singly or in groups of up to six. Flowers are subtended by an epicalyx, similar in appearance to the sepals. There are nine UK species.
