Less-known leafy vegetable 'Lapha' (Malva L.; family Malvaceae) in India and study on genetic resources

During survey, exploration and germplasm collection in parts of Eastern India and National Capital Region of Delhi, mainly Haryana state of India, the authors came to know that two species of Malva locally known as ‘‘lapha’’ being used as a green leafy vegetable in the surveyed areas. Published literature refers same local name and use of Malva parviflora. The critical morphological study of the taxa has delineated two taxa as Malva parviflora L and M. verticillata L, former is a weed of wastelands whereas the latter is grown as vegetable in some parts of Assam, Bihar and West Bengal. M. verticillata is preferred most by locals due to its easy-to-cultivate nature and having high nutritive/therapeutic value, which indicates it’s potential to cultivate during the lean period in those areas where few greens are grown. In the present paper, detailed study on botanical characters, range of distribution and method of utilization of both the taxa in the Indian region has been discussed. The current studies further demonstrated that allied species with similar use and taste are identified as a substitute.