What is this?

[hollynr]

This plant keeps growing in the lawn.* If its been really rainy and the lawn grows a bit tall before we can mow it, I notice that this is always present.* I have no idea what it is, but if it's something worth replanting elsewhere in the yard, I'd love to do that instead of keeping mowing it down.

I live in the central part of eastern Iowa.*

[Newt]

Hi Holly,

The picture is a bit small, but it looks like mallow, possibly roundleaf mallow aka common mallow.* Is this what you see?
http://www.msuturfweeds.net/details/_/common_mallow_11/
http://www.purdue.edu/envirosoft/law...eaf.htm#Mallow

Newt

[hollynr]

Yes!!* That's it!* Ok, now this is probably a really dumb question (but keep in mind I've only been a home owner for two years, and before that I was in apartments in college...) but I feel like I've heard of some sort of flower with "mallow" in the name, being planted in flower gardens.* So, is this a weed, a flower, both?* What do you think, should I try to get rid of it, or move it around the yard? Either way, I can't tell you how happy I am to finally just know what this plant is!* Thank you :)

[Newt]

Holly, you are very welcome!* I'm glad I could id that for you.* Now, the first thing I will say is there are NO dumb questions when it comes to gardening.* :)* You are correct, mallow is the common name of many different genera of plants.* Hollyhocks are referred to as mallow as well as... well, this will explain it better.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallow

As to the one you have found in your garden, I would say to bid it farewell and plant something a little more garden friendly if you like the look of the leaves.* I've always heard that a plant is considered a weed only when it's growing where it isn't wanted.* There is another plant with similarly shaped leaves and plant habit.* One of the nice things about this plant is that water will bead up on the leaves and sparkle in the sunlight.* It's called Alchemilla mollis aka Lady's mantle.* It can seed around the garden if it likes the growing conditions, but if you remove the spent flower heads, that won't be a problem.* Be sure to click on the pictures at the bottom of the page.
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/p....asp?code=B210

Newt