Althaea (genus)

Althaea (genus)
Althaea
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Malvoideae
Tribe: Malveae
Genus: Althaea
L.[1]
Species

Althaea armeniaca
Althaea broussonetiifolia *
Althaea cannabina - Hemp-leaved Marshmallow
Althaea hirsuta - Hairy Marshmallow
Althaea longifolia
Althaea ludwigii
Althaea narbonensis *
Althaea officinalis - Marshmallow
* Not accepted as distinct by all authors

Althaea is a genus of 6-12 species of perennial herbs native to Europe and western Asia. It includes Althaea officinalis, also known as the marshmallow plant, whence the fluffy confection got its name. They are found on the banks of rivers and in salt marshes, preferring moist, sandy soils. The stems grow to 1–2 m tall, and flower in mid summer. The leaves are palmately lobed with 3-7 lobes. Althaea species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix quadrigemina.

Contents

Species

The genus formerly included a number of additional species now treated in the genus Alcea (Hollyhocks).

Chemical constituents

The root contains starch (37%), mucilage (11%), pectin (11%), flavonoids, phenolic acids, sucrose, and asparagine.

Uses

The medicinal properties of the plant is reflected in the name of the genus, which comes from the Greek althainein, meaning "to heal".[2]

The flowers and young leaves can be eaten, and are often added to salads or are boiled and fried. The roots and stem also secrete mucilage, which is used to soften the skin, and is used in cosmetic treatments.[2]

The root has been used since Egyptian antiquity in a honey-sweetened confection useful in the treatment of sore throat.[3] The later French version of the recipe, called pâté de guimauve (or "guimauve" for short), included an eggwhite meringue and was often flavored with rose water. Pâté de guimauve more closely resembles contemporary commercially available marshmallows, which no longer contain any actual marshmallow.

The root's emulsifying property is used for cleaning Persian carpets in the Middle East. It is regarded as the best method to preserve the vibrancy of vegetable dyes used in colouring the carpet's wool.

References

  • Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses by Ivan A. Ross.

Notes

  1. ^ "Althaea L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-03-12. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?464. Retrieved 2010-02-16. 
  2. ^ a b Gualtiero Simonetti (1990). Stanley Schuler. ed. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices. Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN 0-671-73489-X. 
  3. ^ Petkewich, Rachel (2006). "What's that stuff? Marshmallow". Chemical & Engineering News 84 (16): 41. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/84/8416marshmallows.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10. 

Gallery

  • A. officinalis

  • A. officinalis

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Althaea — can refer to:*Althaea (mythology), the daughter of Thestius and mother of Meleager *Althaea (genus), a genus of about 12 species of perennial herbs, native to Europe and western Asia, that includes the marshmallow plant *119 Althaea, an… …   Wikipedia

  • Althaea officinalis — Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angi …   Wikipedia

  • Althaea — Al*th[ae] a, ||Althea Al*the a, n. [althaea, Gr. ?.] (Bot.) (a) A genus of plants of the Mallow family. It includes the officinal marsh mallow, and the garden hollyhocks. (b) An ornamental shrub ({Hibiscus Syriacus}) of the Mallow family. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • althaea — noun any of various plants of the genus Althaea; similar to but having smaller flowers than genus Alcea • Syn: ↑althea, ↑hollyhock • Hypernyms: ↑mallow • Hyponyms: ↑marsh mallow, ↑white mallow, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • genus Althaea — noun hollyhocks; in some classification systems synonymous with genus Alcea • Hypernyms: ↑dilleniid dicot genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Malvaceae, ↑family Malvaceae, ↑mallow family • Member Meronyms: ↑althea, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Althaea officinalis — Marsh Marsh, n. [OE. mersch, AS. mersc, fr. mere lake. See {Mere} pool, and cf. {Marish}, {Morass}.] A tract of soft wet land, commonly covered partially or wholly with water; a fen; a swamp; a morass. [Written also {marish}.] [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Althaea — ID 2941 Symbol Key ALTHA Common Name marshmallow Family Malvaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity N/A US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution AR, CT, DC, DE, KY, MA, MD, MI, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WI Growth Habit N/A …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Althaea cannabina — ID 2942 Symbol Key ALCA25 Common Name palm leaf marshmallow Family Malvaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Introduced to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution DC Growth Habit Forb/herb Duratio …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Althaea hirsuta — ID 2943 Symbol Key ALHI2 Common Name hairy marshmallow Family Malvaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Introduced to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution NY, PA Growth Habit Forb/herb Duration …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Althaea officinalis — ID 2944 Symbol Key ALOF2 Common Name common marshmallow Family Malvaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Introduced to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution AR, CT, DE, KY, MA, MD, MI, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WI Growth… …   USDA Plant Characteristics

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