MALLOWS. 441 
remedy, particularly for mollifying heat; and hence it was 
deemed invaluable formerly by those persons who had to undergo 
the ordeal of holding red-hot iron in their hands as a rapid test 
of their moral integrity. The Common Mallow is a familiar 
roadside plant, with large downy leaves, and streaked, purple, 
trumpet-shaped flowers, which later on furnish round seeds 
resembling small buttons, the same being known to rustics as 
“cheeses.”” Schoolboys are fond of eating these because of 
their nutty flavour, calling them “bread and cheese.” Clare 
recalls the time when he sat as a lad :— 
** Picking from Mallows, sport to please, 
The crumpled seed we called a cheese.” 
Pliny said in ancient times, “‘ Whosoever shall take a spoontul 
of the Mallows shall that day be free from all diseases that may 
come to him”; but the roots of the Common Mallow do not 
yield equally efficacious parts. In France the young tops, and 
tender leaves of the Marsh Mallow are eaten uncooked, because 
serving to stimulate the kidneys; for which same purpose a 
syrup is also made from the roots, with cold water, and sugar 
added thereto. These roots contain starch, mucilage, pectin, 
oil, sugar, asparagin, phosphate of lime, glutinous matter, and 
cellulose. An infusion thereof made with cold water takes up 
the mucilage, sugar, and asparagin, without the starch. The 
laxative quality of the Common Mallow was told about by 
Martial :— 
‘* Exoneraturas ventrem mihi villica Malvas 
Attulit, et varias quas habet hortus opes.” 
The Geranium is said to have been originally a Mallow. 
Mahomet, having washed his shirt while on a journey, hung it 
on a Mallow to dry, and the plant became therefore promoted 
to become a Geranium. Again, the Hollyhock of our gardens 
(Alcea rosea) is a Mallow, possessing nearly all the virtues of 
Marsh Mallow. Evelyn, in his Book of Sallets, tells that Nonius 
has commended “ the tall Holihock that bears the broad flower ” 
for the best, and very laxative :— 
‘* Nulla est humanior herba, 
Nulla magis suavi commoditate bona est: 
Omnia tam placide regerat, panes 5 relaxat, 
Emollitque vias, nec sinit esse rudes. 
