Modiola caroliniana (L.) G. Don

Modiola species are annual or perennial herbs with tuberous rootstock. Stems procumbent, pubescent with simple and stellate hairs, ultimately glabrate. Leaves alternate, 5-7 palmately ribbed, parted or digitately divided, orbicular to triangular, base truncate, margins digitately divided to coarsely crenate-dentate, apex acute, petiolate, stipules ovate, persistent. Inflorescence usually axillary, solitary. Flowers bisexual, pedicel jointed, involucellar bractlets lanceolate, epicalyx segments 3, lanceolate, free, calyx 5 lobed, cupular, persistent, corolla showy and large, scarlet red, orange and dark colored at the base, apex obtuse. Staminal column apex divided into numerous filaments, anthers basifixed, in the upper half. Ovary 16-22 carpellate, arranged in ring around central axis, style usually equal to number of carpels, stigmas capitate. Fruit indehiscent, schizocarp in persistent calyx, discoid, brick red when dried, mericarps 16-22, reniform, separating with 2 crests on the back, 3 valved, transversely septate between seeds, pilose, Seed 2 in each mericarp, notched, minutely hairy.

Modiola species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: May—November.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Annual or perennial herbs with tuberous rootstock and rooting at nodes, about 20-50 cm long. Stems, branches procumbent, densely pubescent with simple and stellate hairs, ultimately glabrate. Leaves alternate, 5-7 palmately lobed or parted, orbicular to triangular, about 0.5-3 x 0.3-2.7 cm across, base truncate, apex acute, again lobes digitately divided or dissected, petiole about 0.5-3.5 cm long, stipules ovate, persistent, about 3-4 mm long. Inflorescence usually axillary, solitary. Flowers bisexual, pedicel jointed, pubescent shorter than the petioles, involucellar bractlets lanceolate, about 4-5 mm long, epicalyx segments 3, lanceolate, free, calyx 5 lobed, cupular, pubescent with simple long hairs, persistent, about 5-7 mm long, corolla 5 lobed, showy, scarlet red, orange and dark colored at the base, petals suborbicular, apex obtuse, about 4-5 mm long. Staminal column apex divided into numerous filaments, yellowish, anthers basifixed, in the upper half. Ovary 16-22 carpellate, arranged in ring around central axis, style usually equal to number of carpels, stigmas capitate. Fruit indehiscent, schizocarp in persistent calyx, discoid, brick red when dried, mericarps 16-22, reniform, separating with 2 crests on the back, 3 valved, transversely septate between seeds, pilose, Seed 2 in each mericarp, about 1.5 mm across, notched, minutely hairy.

Malva species are susceptible to various insect pests, virus and fungi, affecting leaves, fruits and roots.

Notes: Western Ghats, High Altitude, Naturalized

Cultivated as ornamental.

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Cultivated as ornamental.