Althaea hirsuta Rough Marsh-mallow

Althaea hirsuta ©Bob Gibbons/Plantlife

This is a low plant with large pink flowers on a rough stem with rough rounded leaves lower down. It grows in sunny open places such as field margins, tracks or sparse grassland on chalky soils.

It is now only reliably found at five or six sites in the warm southern counties of England. Its main threats are neglect, modern agricultural practices, and its inability to compete with new highly productive crop varieties.

Protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.