This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Althaea officinalis
  • Marsh Mallow

a perennial member of the Althaea genus in the family Malvaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid, neutral, alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Althaea officinalis has 0 edible uses listed
Althaea officinalis has 0 material uses listed
Althaea officinalis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Roots

Boiled, Fried as a Pectin, Egg, Confectionary, Jelly

Leaves

Raw, Cooked as a Salad, Potherb

Flowers

Tea

Material uses

Roots

Dried as an Adhesive, Dental care, Paper, Cosmetic

Seed

Oil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Marsh mallow is a very useful household medicinal herb. Its soothing demulcent properties make it very effective in treating inflammations and irritations of the mucous membranes such as the alimentary canal, the urinary and the respiratory organs[2][9]. The root counters excess stomach acid, peptic ulceration and gastritis[9]. It is also applied externally to bruises, sprains, aching muscles, insect bites, skin inflammations, splinters etc[2][17]. The whole plant, but especially the root, is antitussive, demulcent, diuretic, highly emollient, slightly laxative and odontalgic[2][8][18][13][19]. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat cystitis and frequent urination[9]. The leaves are harvested in August when the plant is just coming into flower and can be dried for later use[2]. The root can be used in an ointment for treating boils and abscesses[9]. The root is best harvested in the autumn, preferably from 2 year old plants, and is dried for later use[17].

Unknown part

Antitussive
Demulcent
Diuretic
Emollient
Laxative
Odontalgic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in late summer, the germination is often erratic[17]. Stratification can improve germination rates and time. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer[K].

Rooted cuttings

Division in spring or autumn. Fairly easy, it is best to pot up the divisions in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away well and then plant them out into their permanent positions. Root cuttings in December.


Cultivation

Succeeds in almost any soil and situation[20][2][21], though it prefers a rich moist soil in a sunny position[2][21]. It also tolerates fairly dry soil conditions[20].

Plants are hardy to about -25°c[22].

Marsh mallow is often cultivated in the herb garden, as a culinary and medicinal herb as well as for ornament[1]. Its roots were at one time the source of the sweet 'marsh mallow', but this sweet is now made without using the plant[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Althaea officinalis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Althaea officinalis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Althaea officinalis
Genus
Althaea
Family
Malvaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[10][2][11][3][5][1][4][6][7][8][9]
Medicinal uses
[2][9][17][8][18][13][19]
Material uses & Functions
[12][7][13][1][14][15][16]
Botanic
[8][21]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Salinity
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
1.2 x 0.75
Fertility
self fertile
Pollinators
?
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

"image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.




References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
  2. ? 2.002.012.022.032.042.052.062.072.082.092.102.11 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (32202/01/01)
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (32202/01/01)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading ISBN 0704909820 (32202/01/01)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (32202/01/01)
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.4 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (32202/01/01)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (32202/01/01)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.6 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (32202/01/01)
  10. ? 10.010.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (32202/01/01)
  12. ? 12.012.1 Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana ISBN 0-00-635555-2 (32202/01/01)
  13. ? 13.013.113.213.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (32202/01/01)
  14. ? 14.014.114.214.3 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (32202/01/01)
  15. ? 15.015.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
  16. ? 16.016.1 Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. ISBN 0-85613-067-2 (32202/01/01)
  17. ? 17.017.117.217.3 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (32202/01/01)
  18. ? 18.018.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (32202/01/01)
  19. ? 19.019.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
  20. ? 20.020.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
  21. ? 21.021.121.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
  22. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (32202/01/01)



"image:Althaea officinalis 140807a.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Althaea_officinalis&oldid=81994"
Facts about "Althaea officinalis"RDF feed
Article is incompleteFalse +
Article requires citationsFalse +
Article requires cleanupTrue +
Belongs to familyMalvaceae +
Belongs to genusAlthaea +
Can be grown from cutting typeRoot +
Has binomial nameAlthaea officinalis +
Has common nameMarsh Mallow +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partRoots +, Leaves + and Flowers +
Has edible usePectin +, Egg +, Confectionary +, Jelly +, Salad +, Potherb + and Tea +
Has environmental toleranceSalinity +
Has fertility typeSelf fertile +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone3 +
Has imageAlthaea officinalis 140807a.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partRoots + and Seed +
Has material useAdhesive +, Dental care +, Paper +, Cosmetic + and Oil +
Has mature height1.2 +
Has mature width0.75 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntitussive +, Demulcent +, Diuretic +, Emollient +, Laxative + and Odontalgic +
Has primary imageAlthaea officinalis 140807a.jpg +
Has salinity toleranceTolerant +
Has search namealthaea officinalis + and marsh mallow +
Has seed requiring scarificationFalse +
Has seed requiring stratificationTrue +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameAlthaea officinalis +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is grown fromSeed + and Cutting +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedYes +
PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedYes +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates air pollutionFalse +
Tolerates maritime exposureFalse +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilFalse +
Tolerates windFalse +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis +, Althaea officinalis + and Althaea officinalis +