THE ECONOMIC PRODUCTS OF THE MALLOW FAMILY. 123 



other scents. The Humera elegans has been recommended as a plant 

 perhaps worthy of distillation on account of its balsamic fragrance. Very- 

 many of the Acacise, indigenous to this country, produce flowers of a most 

 agreeable odour, and a useful distillation may possibly be obtained from 

 thenu If so, this point will require more attention, as these trees and 

 shrubs are very gregarious, and produce flowers in the utmost profusion. 

 Melbourne. 



NOTES ON THE ECONOMIC PRODUCTS OF THE MALLOW 

 FAMILY. 



BY JOHN R. JACKSON. 



Amonst the many natural families of plants, which contribute so largely 

 to the wants and necessities of man, the Mallow Order claims a prominent 

 position. There are few, perhaps, which abound in such a variety of 

 economic products as this order does, unless we look to the Leguminosse, 

 Graminacese, &c. 



Plants of the Mallow family are found abundantly in the tropics, few of 

 them reaching a higher latitude than that of our own country. They are 

 remarkable for the entire absence of all noxious properties, and for the 

 great quantity of mucilage and abundance of fibre contained in nearly all 

 the species. Thus, the marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis, Lin.) gives in 

 decoction a plentiful supply of a tasteless, colourless mucilage, obtained 

 from all parts of the plant, but chiefly the root ; it is given as a demulcent 

 to children, but is more used in France than in this country, being a 

 favourite medicine with them. They form it into lozenges, combined with 

 gum arabic, sugar, and white of egg, and in this shape it is known by the 

 name of Pate de Guimauve. They also employ it in poultices, &c. In 1821, 

 280 acres of land were planted in England with it for the sake of its fibres. 

 The leaves of the hollyhock (Althaea rosea, Cav.), another well-known 

 garden plant, furnish a blue dye resembling indigo. 



The common mallow (Malva sylvestris, L.) abounds in mucilage, and 

 is used in medicine in the same manner as Althaea officinalis. 



The petals of Malva alcea are astringent, and a black dye is also 

 obtained from them. The leaves of Malachra capitata, L. are said to 

 be anthelmintic, and are employed as such in Panama. 



Several species of Sicla yield medicinal properties, and are used by 

 native practitioners in India ; while the root of S. retusa, L., boiled in oil, 

 is used externally and internally in rheumatism, and a decoction of its 

 leaves as a head-wash. 



An infusion of the root of Sida acxda, Burm., is also employed in India 

 in intermittent fevers, and is in great repute amongst the Hindoos, who 

 value it as a specific in chronic bowel complaints ; while a juice obtained 



