Marsh Mallow
This shrub was growing wild in a marshy area of the lake. When researched, I found this plant is used as food: the leaves in salads or to thicken soup, the roots are a vegetable, the flowers and/or roots make a tea, and the water left over from cooking any part of the plant can be used as an egg-white substitute. At one time its roots were used to make the original sweet called marshmallow but this treat is now made without using this plant. This plant is also a very useful household medicinal herb. Also, the root can be used as a toothbrush, as a skin softner and the fiber in stems and roots can be used to make paper. You can read much more detail regarding the uses for this plant here: www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Althaea+officinalis
Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis)
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Marsh Mallow
This shrub was growing wild in a marshy area of the lake. When researched, I found this plant is used as food: the leaves in salads or to thicken soup, the roots are a vegetable, the flowers and/or roots make a tea, and the water left over from cooking any part of the plant can be used as an egg-white substitute. At one time its roots were used to make the original sweet called marshmallow but this treat is now made without using this plant. This plant is also a very useful household medicinal herb. Also, the root can be used as a toothbrush, as a skin softner and the fiber in stems and roots can be used to make paper. You can read much more detail regarding the uses for this plant here: www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Althaea+officinalis
Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis)
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com