MARSH-MALLOW. 329 



The fragrant smell of the flower is well known, 

 and to most persons is very agreeable : to the 

 taste it is bitterish, warm, and somewhat pungent ; 

 the leaves are weaker, and less grateful. The 

 flowers are often employed as a perfume, and me- 

 dicinally as mild stimulants and corroborants, in 

 several complaints, both internally and externally. 

 They are also sometimes used in the form of a 

 conserve. 



17. MARSH-MALLOW. ALTHJEA. 



So called from its many excellent qualities. It 

 grows plentifully in salt marshes, and on the banks 

 of rivers and ditches in several counties in England, 

 or near the coast of Cornwall, Holland, France, 

 and other countries. It is perennial, and may be 

 easily propagated by parting the roots in autumn. 



Marsh-mallow abounds with a glutinous juice, 

 with scarcely any smell or peculiar taste. The dry 

 roots, boiled in water, give out half their weight of 

 gummy matter. The leaves afford scarcely one 

 fourth, and the flowers and seeds still less. The 

 mucilaginous matter is the medicinal part of the 

 plant, and it is commonly employed for its emol- 

 lient and demulcent qualities. Althcea was for- 

 merly in great repute in many complaints ; but is 

 now only principally employed in the form of a 

 syrup. 



