2S8 FLORA HISTORICA. 



Malva, from its softening and laxative properties ; 

 and that this plant was used in the food of the 

 Romans on account of this quality, appears by a 

 line from Horace, 



Shards or Mallows for ttie pot, 

 That keep the loosened body sound. 



Dryden. 

 Martial also makes a similar remark: 



Exoneraturas ventrem mihi vi/lica Malvas 

 Astulit. et varias, qiias habet hortus, opes. 



Lib. 10. 



The Greeks, as well as the Romans, ate this 



plant both boiled, and raw in salads, with lettuce 



and other vegetables. 



The Chinese and the Fgyptians still use a spe- 

 cies of the Mallow in their diet. 



The IMallow formed one of the funeral flowers of 

 the ancients, it being customary to plant it around 

 the graves and tombs of departed friends. 



In floral language, the Mallow is made the em- 

 blem of a sweet or mild disposition. 



Pliny speaks of two kinds of Mallows that were 

 cultivated in the gardens of the Romans, which, 

 he says, were distinguished from the wild Mal- 

 lows by the size of the leaves. This author tells 

 us that the leaves of the Marsh Mallow were 

 used as a counter poison against the sting or bite 

 of all venomous reptiles, from the wasp to the 

 serpent ; and that the juice of Mallows given 



