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 | Mallow Other Names: Common Mallow
Botanical Name: Malva sylvestris
Family: N.O. Malvaceae |
Description: |
The Common or Blue Mallow is a robust plant 3 or 4 feet high, growing freely in field, hedgerows and on waste ground. Its stem is round, thick and strong, the leaves stalked, roundish, five to seven lobed, downy, with stellate hairs and the veins prominent on the underside. The flowers are showy, bright mauve-purple, with dark veins. When they first expand in June, the plant is handsome, but as the summer advances, the leaves lose their deep green colour and the stems assume a ragged appearance.
Cattle do not appear to be fond of this plant, every part of which abounds with a mild mucilage.
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Medicinal Usage: |
The use of this species of Mallow has been much superseded by Marsh Mallow, which possesses its valuable properties in a superior degree, but it is still a favourite remedy with country people where Marsh Mallow is not obtainable. The roots are not considered of much value compared with those of the Marsh Mallow, and as a rule the leaves and flowers are used only, mainly externally in fomentations and poultices. The infusion has been a popular remedy for coughs and colds, but the internal use of the leaves has fallen into disuse, giving place to Marsh Mallow root, though they are still employed as a decoction for injection, which, made strong, cures strangury and gravel.
The foliage when boiled, forms a wholesome vegetable. The seeds, or 'cheeses,' are also edible.
A tincture of the flowers, which turn blue in fading, forms a very delicate test for alkalis.
The flowers were used formerly on May Day by country people for strewing before their doors and weaving into garlands. |
Ancient Lore: |
MALLOW (Common) MALVA SYLVESTRIS
When boiled in water, the strong decoction is good to take off the strangury.
The Common Mallow grows three or four feet (0.8 to 1.2 m) high, with a thick round stern, roundish indented leaves and large reddish-mauve flowers.
Where to find it: Hedgerows, edges of fields and waste ground.
Flowering time: Late spring, early summer.
Astrology.. All Mallows are under Venus.
Medicinal virtues: The whole plant is used, but the root has most virtue.
The leaves, dried or fresh, are put into decoctions for clysters. The root may be dried, but it is best fresh, if chosen when there are only leaves growing from it, not a stalk.
Boiled in water, the strong decoction when drank provokes the urine, sharp humours of the bowel and gravel.
Sweetened with a syrup of Violets, it cures painful urination. A conserve of Mallow flowers, a syrup of the juice, a decoction of Turnips, or Willow, or a Syrup of Ground-ivy is also good for this.
Modern uses: The leaves and flowers are soothing to the urinary tract, intestines, and respiratory organs. An infusion of 1 oz (28 g) of the leaves or flowers in 1 pt (568 ml) of boiling water is taken in doses of 2 fl OZ
(56 ml) for cystitis, coughs and colds and for intestinal inflammation. |
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