''Modiola'' is a monotypic genus of plants in the
mallow family containing the single species ''Modiola caroliniana'', which is known by several common names including bristly-fruited mallow,
Carolina bristlemallow,
babosilla, and redflower mallow. It is a creeping
perennial
In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
which is probably native to South America but which is widely
naturalized
Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the ...
throughout the tropical and warmer temperate world.
Ecology
Carolina bristlemallow is a grassland weed, commonly occurring in gardens and lawns and in moist habitats such as shores of ponds and reserviors. It can propagate vegetatively by rooting at the nodes, and in Australia, seeds have been reported to germinate from the scats of introduced deer but not those of native kangaroos. It has shown resistance to the herbicide clopyralid.
Carolina bristlemallow is infected by the rust fungus
Puccinia modiolae and the chytrid fungus
Synchytrium modioliensis.
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment*
Photo gallery
Malveae
Monotypic Malvales genera
Malvaceae genera
Taxa named by Conrad Moench
{{Malveae-stub