16 
MALVA SYLVESTRIS. 
The Genus Malva comprises many species, forty-eiglit are known 
and cultivated in England,* the greater number of which are exotic. 
The Malva Sylvestris is indigenous to Britain, and is one of the most 
common native plants ; it is found in various situations, in pastures, 
hedgerows, footpaths, amongst rubbish, &c. The root is perennial, 
long, thick, whitish, and furnished with many strong fibres ; the stem 
round, liairy and branched, generally upright, and from one to two 
feet high ; the leaves stand on long hairy footstalks, and are divided 
into five or seven lobes, often marked at the bottom with a purplish 
spot; stipules, two, at the bottom of each footstalk; calyx, a dou- 
ble perianthium, the outer is composed of three and the inner of 
five oval pointed hairy segments ; corolla composed of five heart- 
shaped petals, uniting at the bottom; filaments numerous, uniting 
into a purphsh tube, unconnected above and bending outwards ; 
anthers kidney-shaped 5 germeu orbicular; style cyhndrical ; short; 
stigmata numerous ; seeds kidney-shaped, covered with an arillus 
which opens inwardly. 
This species of mallow has been long esteemed for its mucilagi- 
nous properties, in which every part of the plant abounds; especially 
the leaves. Some other native species of mallow, as the Malva Alcea 
and Malva Rotundifolia, possess nearly similar properties, and the 
leaves of both (we are told) are collected by the dealers who supply 
the markets, and sold along with the leaves of the Malva Sylvestris 
for medicinal purposes. Formerly various species of mallow were 
eaten as food,t but in the present epicurean age, even cattle are not 
fond of it. 
Medical Properties and Uses. The Malva Sylvestris, as 
we have observed, abounds with mucilage, hence it possesses very 
emollient, pectoral, cooling, and gentle aperient qualities, and is 
found useful, in heat of urine, strangury, gravel and gonorrhoea ; 
also in coughs and hoarseness, roughness of the fauces, &c. But 
in the present day, the Malva Sylvestris is but little used, except as a 
topical application in fomentations, &c. its internal use being super- 
seded by the Radix Altha;a.: A decoction of the leaves, however 
with the addition of raisins or prunes, forms a very agreeable drink, 
in many cases where a bland mucilage is required ; and where the 
Alth^a is not to be obtained, the leaves of the Malva Sylvestris 
form an excellent substitute. 
Ofi". The leaves and flowers. Off. Pp. Decoct. Malvae comp. L. 
f — — . — . 
* Vide Hort. Cant. lOlti ed. 
t We are told by Touriiefwt, " The Malva Rotundifolia, was eaten by the Romans 
and Egyptians, and that the Chinese mixed the Malva Sylvestris with their food. 
t " Altbtea in omnibus supra dictis efficacior radix." Plin, Nat. Hist. Vol. ii. p. 062. 
