290 FLORA HISTORICA. 



the French jNIallow, and he adds, *^it is an excel- 

 lent pot herbe^ for which cause it is sown in gardens;" 

 and to recommend it still further to us, this old 

 medical writer commends its properties in verse : 



If that of health you haiie any speciall care, 



Vse French IMiillowes, that to the body holsome are. 



Notwithstanding the strong recommendation of 

 Gerard, this hardy annual plant is entirely banished 

 from the kitchen-garden, but it is frequently to 

 be seen amongst flowering shrubs, where its 

 curiously curled and plaited leaves have a good 

 effect, both by their singularity and agreeable 

 pale green colour. The Hortus Kewensis notices 

 thirty-four other exotic species of Mallow, that 

 have been brought from various parts of the 

 world to this country, where we have now more 

 than sixty species, some of w'hich are only humble 

 herbs, w^hilst others are tall shrubs ; and some 

 of the tribe reach the size of large trees, the 

 trunks measuring from twenty to thirty feet in 

 diameter. Several beautiful species of the Mallow 

 have lately been brought from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, but these at present are confined to the 

 green-house. 



The medical properties of the IMallow being con- 

 sidered the same as the AlthcBa, or Marsh-Mallow, 

 •will be noticed under the head of that article. 



