Malacothamnus densiflorus is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, which has two varieties.

It can be mostly distinguished from the rest of the genus by the nonglandular trichomes on the abaxial calyx surface, which are relatively long, relatively sparse (especially on the calyx tube), and simple to relatively few-rayed.

The common name few-rayed bushmallow comes from this distinctive character.

viscidus is known by the common name emerald unicorn bushmallow, which is named after the glandular trichomes that, after drying, sometimes resemble unicorn horns made of emerald.

It can be distinguished from most of the rest of the genus by the combination of a spike-like inflorescence and relatively long glandular trichomes.