Botanical description and morphological characteristics of *Malva neglecta* seed

Family: SOLANACEAE

MALVACEAE FAMILY Schizocarp fruits are rounded-compressed, consisting of 12–16 disintegrating fruitlets, often enclosed in the remnants of a pubescent calyx and epicalyx. The surface of the schizocarps is densely covered with fine light hairs. The pericarp is thin and easily shed. The diameter of the schizocarps is 6–10 mm, thickness 1.5–2 mm. Fruitlets are rounded-compressed, round-reniform; on the ventral side, they are slightly truncate-bent with an obliquely positioned depression, and significantly thickened on the dorsal side. The pericarp at the notch is usually destroyed, making the seed hilum visible. The surface of the fruitlets is smooth or slightly arcuate-wrinkled, rough, and matte. The back is densely covered with fine light hairs. The pericarp is thin and easily rubbed off. The coloration on the back is dingy brown, and grey-greenish on the sides. Length 2.75–3 mm, width 1.75–2.25 mm, thickness 0.75–1 mm. Seeds are rounded-compressed, round-reniform, with a thickened-rounded back. The seed hilum is located in a compressed notch. The surface of the seeds is punctate-rough, often with a thin-filmed translucent coating; matte. Coloration is brownish-grey, dark grey; the coating is whitish. Length and width 1.75–2.25 mm, thickness 0.5–0.75 mm. It infests crops of cereals, flax, alfalfa, clover, vetch, and vegetable gardens; it grows along roadsides. Distribution: European part (central and southern regions), Caucasus, Central Asia. The most frequently encountered weed in plant produce.