Re: [gardeners] Althea officinalis uses
Jane Burdekin (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Tue, 9 Mar 1999 05:07:11 -0700
Thanks for the info and sites Cynthia. I finally found a picture of the
Althaea officinalis and it is not the plant I am finding in the garden. I
have found quite a few uses for it too, and it is available in the natural
food stores here in town. Maybe the plant I am looking for is the other
Malvas you mentioned. Thanks for the site. I'm off to check them out.
Hmmm, that is not it. The plant I am looking at in the garden is
definately a weed and the plants I just looked at are things you would
actually want to plant. This weed is low to the ground and spreads out in
a rosette shape. The leaves are round and scalloped on the edges. It
produces small whitish/purplish flowers and forms a button shaped like a
hollyhock seed button later. It has a carrot like tap root that is heading
for China and if you leave any piece of it a new plant (weed) will form.
Any ideas???
Jane
>
> At 05:23 AM 3/8/99 -0700, you wrote:
> ><snip>I got distracted trying to find out if the "weed" called
> >Malva was of some value. I recently took an herb class and it is one of
> >the plants the instructor pointed out. Does any one know if it is the
same
> >as marshmallow plant. I am thinking it is Althaea officinalis but I
can't
> >find a picture to confirm it. If that is the right name there seems to
be
> >many uses for this common weed that I keep digging and throwing in the
> >compost. If it is that I sure hope I haven't completely iradicated it
from
> >the garden, what are the odds of that? I better get out there and
finish
> >preparing for pea planting tonight.
> >
> >Jane
>
>
> Hi Jane,
>
> I have some info from, "The Herb Book", by John Lust. Says, common names
> for Althea officinalis is Marshmallow, mortification root, sweet weed,
> wymote. The medicinal parts are root, leaves, flowers.
>
> Properties and uses... Demulcent, emollient, diuretic. It's particular
> excellence is soothing irritated tissue. Externally, use it as a
poultice
> for irritations, burns, carbuncles, and furuncle, and wounds. (what the
> heck is a furuncle?).
>
> It says more, but I don't have time to type it all out this morning. If
> you really want more, let me know and I will type up the rest of the
> decoction info etc. I also have info on Malva sylvestris and Malva
> rotundifolia if you need it.
>
> A good place to start looking for a pic is at virtual garden
>
> http://www.vg.com/cgi-bin/VG/vg
>
> Cynthia
>
>
> **Womyn Who Moves Mountains-Little Finger Of Michigan**
> **cmayeaux@traverse.com **USDA zone 4b-Sunset zone 41**
> ** http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/2659/garden/cynthia.html **