Malva punctata (previously known as Lavatera punctata), commonly called spotted-stalked tree-mallow[1] or annual tree mallow, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Malva of the family Malvaceae.

Malva punctata reaches on average 20–90 cm (7.9–35.4 in) of height.

Plant of western Mediterranean origin is distributed from the South of France and Italy to Albania, Greece, Palestine, Israel, Asia Minor and Turkey.

[2] These plants grow at an altitude of 0–600 metres (0–1,969 ft) above sea level.

They prefer rocky soils in sunny areas and fallow fields, hedgerows, beds of streams and road margins.