312 FLORA HISTORICA. 



that the Greeks called it MaAa;^^-/], and the Latins 

 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 the pot, 

 That keep the loosen'd body sound." 



Dryden. 



Martial also makes a similar remark : 



** Exoneraturas ventremmihi villica Malvas 

 AstuUty et varias, quas habet hortusy 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 Egyptians still use a 

 species of the Mallow in their diet. 



The Mallow 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, 

 and which he says were distinguished from the 

 wild Mallows by the size of the leaves. This 

 author tells us that the leaves of the Marsh Mai- 



