Mallow is native to Europe and Asia, but can be found as a weed in other parts of the world. The drug is mostly imported from Albania, Bulgaria and Morocco.
Wild mallow in herbal medicine
In herbal medicine, the dried flowers (Malvae flos) and leaves (Malvae folium) collected at flowering time are used. The flowers should not be confused with black mallow flowers, which are obtained from hollyhock and not from Malva species.
Mallow and its characteristics
Mallow is a biennial to perennial perennial up to 1 m tall with 3-7 lobed leaves. The individual lobes are rounded, hairy and the margin is notched. Furthermore, the perennial bears 5-petaled, pink flowers, each with five petals, on which characteristic darker stripes can be seen.
Mallow as a medicine
The drug from mallow flowers contains mainly bristly hairy sepals and light purple or dark blue-violet petals. Furthermore, numerous filamentous stamens occur, which are often fused into a tube. Occasionally, the flattened ovary is also found.
Mallow leaves are roundish with 3-7 lobes and unevenly toothed leaf margin. Clearly, one can see the palmate leaf veins.
Mallow flowers: smell and taste
Neither mallow flowers nor leaves emit a particularly noticeable odor. The taste of the flowers and leaves is mucilaginous.
