Red-flowered mallow
Modiola caroliniana
Malvaceae
Medicinal
Red-flowered mallow is commonly found growing in gardens, lawns, fields, waste areas, moist areas, orchards, irrigated land and disturbed natural areas. It is an annual or perennial plant, rhizomatous, prostrate or ascending (up to 25 cm high), leaves are ovate to broad-ovate (3-4 cm long, 2-3 cm wide). Flowers are bisexual, orange-red or red and have five petals, while the fruit is rounded and 7-9 mm wide. Roots can form at nodes, allowing plants to spread. Moths and butterflies are reported pollinators.
hosts include:Puccinia modiolae (rust)Cercospora modiolae (leaf spot)Synchytrium australe (false rust or wart disease)Myzus persicae (Green peach aphid)See UNE marshmallow link for pests and diseases of Malva parviflora - this is a related plant, as such pests and diseases might be similar.According to one website, Red-flowered mallow is a host for the Blue Moon butterfly. The source could not be confirmed, however a related plant Sida rhombifolia, is a known host for the Blue moon butterfly.A secretion use to construct resin nest caps by the Wasp bee (Hylaeoides concinna) was found tocontain material from Red-flowered mallow (Native Bee Conference link below).