Lavatera cretica   Smaller Tree Mallow  RR DD N

It may be smaller by name but the ones we saw in Guernsey were mostly larger in size than a typical L. arborea. Fully grown L. cretica was over 2 metres tall but with smaller, paler flowers than L. arborea. Where it grows in barren places it still looks healthy but is only 20 to 30cm tall.  On Guernsey L. cretica grows in walls, the edges of fields and in waste places generally.  Locally frequent is the posh botanical term used for the distribution of this national rarity which is a weed on Guernsey.  Most of the leaves at this site were covered with what seemed to be small rust coloured galls. The photo of the whole plant shows it to be a sparsely flowering species which looks very unspectacular.

Edge of Field, Bordeaux, Guernsey, 19th June 2004

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