Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) C.Presl

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Malvaceae

• Scientific Name

  Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) C.Presl ex A.Gray

• Description

  Species Description - Perennial to 1 m, rather roughly stellate; lvs triangular-ovate in outline, 6–15 cm, often hastate with 2 divergent lobes; fls axillary or in a leafy- bracteate terminal panicle; bractlets 6–10, linear, 3–9 mm; pet pink, obovate, 2–4 cm; capsule depressed- globose, 5-locular, hispid over the summit, 1 cm thick. Salt or brackish marshes; L.I. to Fla., Tex., and W.I. Aug.–Sept. Var. virginica, occurring from Va. s., has the hairs of the fr mostly 1.2–2.4 mm. Var. aquilonia Fernald, occurring from N.C. n., has the hairs of the fr rarely over 1 mm, and the plants tend to have smaller fls, shorter bractlets, and less densely hairy frs than var. virginica.

• Common Names

  seashore-mallow