Spec. Plant Willd. iii. 774.

Cl. 16. Ord.6. Monadelphia Polyandria. Nat. ord. Malvaceae.

G. 1290. Calyx double, the exterior three-leaved. Capsules numerous, one-seeded.

* * With angular leaves.

Species 43. Malva sylvestris.1 Common Mallow. Med. Bot. 2d edit. 554. t. 199. Smith, Flora Brit. 740. Eng. Bot. 671.

Officinal. Malva, Lond. Malvae Sylvestris herba, flores, Edin. Mallow. Syn. Mauve (F.), Kasepappel (G.), Malva (I.), Malvas (S.)•

This is a perennial, indigenous plant, common over all Europe, growing on waste grounds and at the sides of roads; and flowering from May till August. The root is fusiform, branching, and of a whitish colour. The stem frequently erect, branched, round, hairy, and many flowered. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, cordate, divided into seven lobes, plaited, somewhat rough, and crenate; the upper ones are almost palmate. At the base of each footstalk are two stipules. The flowers, which stand on slender, hairy peduncles, are large; composed of five, inversely cordate, purple petals, three times longer than the calyx, which is hispid. The capsules are from ten to fifteen in number, of a rounded kidney-form, crustaceous, brittle, close all round, of a dark straw-colour, excavated, and wrinkled on the back.. The seeds are kidney-shaped, ash-coloured, and furnished with an arillus which opens inwardly.

Qualities.-Common mallow is inodorous, and has a weak, herbaceous, mucilaginous taste. The decoction has a mawkish, disagreeable taste; is precipitated by acetate of lead; and is little more than a simple solution of vegetable mucus.

Medical properties and uses.-This herb is more demulcent and emollient than the root. Its decoction is employed in dysentery, ischuria, strangury, and nephritic complaints, but is in every respect inferior to that of althea root. It is chiefly used in the form of enema in tenesmus and nephritic colic: and in that of cataplasms and fomentations in phlegmonous inflammation.

Officinal preparation.-Decoctum Malvae compositum, L.

Graecorum.

Malva, quasi molva, quod alvum moliat.