Introduction
Common Mallow is an attractive species that has been used throughout history in food and medicine.
In traditional folk medicine, common mallow was often used for making medicinal poultices and soothing ointments.
It was also harvested as a nutritious wild edible, as you will see below.
Scientific Name
Family
Malvaceae
Botanical Description
Purplish, pink flowers adorn a coarse, hairy stem with lobed, crinkly leaves that resemble ivy. The plant grows up to 40-120 cm. The seeds appear as edible flat discs.
Status
Biennial or perennial. Native.
Habitat and Distribution
Cultivated land, grassland, roadsides, scrub, wasteland
Parts Used for Food
Leaves, flowers, roots and seed or ‘nutlets’.
Harvest Time
March, April, July, August, September.
Food Uses
Common mallow yields disc-shaped seeds, or ‘nutlets’, that are edible and snacked on like ‘cheeses’. The leaves can be cooked and eaten like spinach, added to thicken soups or deep-fried like green wafers. The flowers and buds can be pickled.
Nutritional Profile
Common mallow is a highly nutritious green, containing (per 100 g of fresh weight) 4.6 g protein, 1.4 g fat, 24 mg vitamin C, as well as vitamin A and carotenoids.
The fats contain important omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which could help to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
The leaves also contain health-giving antioxidants. Common mallow is also a good source of dietary fibre.
Mallow Recipes
Herbal Medicine Uses
Common mallow was once a ‘cure-all’ of Medieval herbal medicine. It was used to treat many conditions from stomach ache to problems during childbirth.
In Britain and Ireland, the plant has been used as a laxative, to cleanse the liver, to cure blood poisoning, and to treat urinary problems, rheumatism, heartburn, coughs and cuts.
The mucilaginous roots, in particular, were used to make poultices and soothing ointments.
Other Uses
There are no particular uses for common mallow outside food and medicine, although the pretty flowers can be used for decoration around the home.
Safety Note
The seeds may be poisonous if eaten in large quantities.
References
Barros, L. et al. (2010) Leaves, flowers, immature fruits and leafy flowered stems of Malva sylvestris: A comparative study of the nutraceutical potential and composition. Food and Chemical Toxicology. [Online] 48 (6), 1466–1472.
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