Flora of North America species comparison

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Modiola caroliniana

Carolina bristle-mallow, modiola
Stems

flowering apices often ascending, branched, usually 0.2–0.5 m, often rooting at nodes.
Leaves

stipules 3–4 × 1.5–3 mm;

petiole length 1–2 times blade;

blade 1.5–4 × 1.5–4 cm.
Pedicels

usually shorter than subtending petioles, hairy;

involucellar bractlets lanceolate, 4–5 mm.
Flowers

calyx 5–7 mm, hairy, hairs simple, 1–2 mm;

corolla erect, 6–8 mm;

staminal column yellowish;

anthers crowded at apex;

stigmas equaling number of locules.
Seeds

1.5 mm.
Mericarps

drying black, 5–6 mm, apical spines 1.5–3 mm.
2n

= 18.

Modiola caroliniana
Phenology Flowering Mar–Nov.
Habitat Disturbed, usually moist habitats, shores of ponds and reservoirs, low sandy areas, lawns, roadsides
Elevation 0–400 m (0–1300 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; AZ; CA; DE; FL; GA; KY; LA; MA; MS; NC; OK; OR; PA; SC; TN; TX; VA; HI; Central America; South America [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Modiola caroliniana is somewhat weedy but not a serious agricultural weed. It has been reported in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania as a waif but doubtfully persists that far north. It is well established in the southeastern United States and is rather common as a lawn weed in some locations and as a garden weed in California. It probably came from southern South America in wool or cotton. Its closest relative, Modiolastrum K. Schumann, is known from southern South America.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 6, p. 304.
Parent taxa Malvaceae > subfam. Malvoideae > Modiola
Synonyms Malva caroliniana, M. prostrata, M. reptans, M. urticifolia
Name authority (Linnaeus) G. Don: Gen. Hist. 1: 466. (1831)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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