Althaea officinalis. Althaea rosea.
Botanical name:
Althaea officinalis Linn. Malvaceae. Marshmallow. White Mallow.
The plant is found wild in Europe and Asia and is naturalized in places in America. It is cultivated extensively in Europe for medicinal purposes, acting as a demulcent. In 812, Charlemagne enjoined its culture in France. Johnson says its leaves may be eaten when boiled.
Althaea rosea Cav. Hollyhock.
The Orient. This species grows wild in China and in the south of Europe. Forskal says it is cultivated at Cairo for the sake of its leaves, which are esculent and are used in Egyptian cookery. It possesses similar properties to the marshmallow and is used for similar purposes in Greece.
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World, 1919, was edited by U. P. Hedrick.
