Common Mallow, Malva sylvestris

This beautiful plant is very common throughout Pelion and Greece, growing in meadows, cultivated, fallow and waste ground, roadsides and, occasionally, on coastal rocks and sand-dunes. It is a very variable, medium to tall, hairy biennial or

perennial, which can reach a height of about 0.5 m (1 3/5 ft).

Its leaves are kidney-shaped to rounded-heart-shaped, with 3-7 rounded, toothed lobes.

Flowers come in clusters of two or more. Petals range between 1.5 – 3 cm (3/5 – 1 1/4 in) in length and are pink or purple, with darker veins.

According to "Plants for a Future", M. sylvestris is edible. More specifically:

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They are rather mucilaginous, with a mild pleasant flavor, and blend nicely with soups where they act as a thickener. Young leaves also make a very acceptable substitute for lettuce in a salad.
Immature seed can be eaten raw. Used as a nibble, the seeds have a nice nutty flavor, but are too fiddly for most people to want to gather in quantity.
Flowers can be eaten raw. They can be added to salads or used as a garnish. A pleasant mild flavor, with a similar texture to the leaves, they make a pleasant and pretty addition to the salad bowl.
The leaves are a tea substitute.

However, care should be exerted as the plant tends to concentrate high levels of nitrates in its leaves, when grown on nitrogen rich soils (and particularly when these are cultivated inorganically). Leaves are perfectly wholesome at all other times.

The source cited above also states that the plant has quite a few medicinal properties, namely:

All parts of the plant are antiphlogistic, astringent, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant and laxative.
The leaves and flowers can be eaten as part of the diet, or a tea can be made from the leaves, flowers or roots.
The leaves and flowers are the main part used, their demulcent properties making them valuable as a poultice for bruise, inflammations, insect bites, nettle stings, etc., or they can be taken internally in the treatment of respiratory system diseases and problems with the digestive tract.
When combined with eucalyptus it makes a god remedy for coughs and other chest ailments. Mallow has similar properties, but is considered to be inferior to the marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) and are seldom used internally.
The plant is an excellent laxative for young children.
The leaves can be used fresh whenever they are available or can be harvested in the spring and dried for later use. The flowers are harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use.

Children, here in Greece, frequently use the Common Mallow to relieve the inflammation and pain caused by the Stinging Nettle.

Type of plant
Biennial/perennial shrub

Flowering Season
April - September

Known Hazards
Tends to concentrate high levels of nitrates in its leaves, when grown on nitrogen rich soils

Known Uses
Wide variety of uses, as detailed above. "Plants for a Future" rate this plant 3 out of 5 for edibility and 3 out of 5 for medicinal use (min. 0, max. 5).

Habitat
Meadows, cultivated, fallow and waste ground, roadsides, occasionally on coastal rocks and sand-dunes

Distribution
Throughout the Mediterranean region

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae (Plants); Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants); Superdivision: Spermatophyta (Seed plants); Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants); Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons); Subclass: Dilleniidae; Order: Malvales; Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family); Genus: Malva; Species: sylvestris

Acknowledgments

Information on the plant's edible and medicinal uses was obtained from "Plants for a Future".