Malva is a
genus of about 25–30 species of
herbaceous annual,
biennial, and
perennial plants in the family
Malvaceae (of which it is the type genus), one of several closely related genera in the family to bear the common English name
mallow. The genus is widespread throughout the
temperate,
subtropical and
tropical regions of
Africa,
Asia and
Europe. The word "mallow" is derived from
Old English "malwe", which was imported from
Latin "malva",
cognate with
Ancient Greek μαλάχη (malakhē) meaning "mallow", both perhaps reflecting a Mediterranean term. A number of species, previously considered to belong to
Lavatera, have been moved to
Malva.