marsh mallow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European marsh-mallow
• Marsh-Mallow
• marshmallow
• white-mallow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Malva althaea
• Malva officinalis
• Althaea officinalis subsp. indica
• Althaea officinalis var. pallida
• Althaea officinalis var. obtusiuscula
• Althaea officinalis var. rotundifolia
• Althaea multiflora
• Althaea pulchra
• Althaea officinalis var. obtusifolia
• Althaea kragujevacensis
• Althaea balearica
• Althaea sublobata
• Althaea officinalis var. vulgaris
• Althaea officinalis var. thirkeana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Malvales, and the family Malvacaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Althaea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can also be found growing in Austria. Additionally, its range extends into Belgium within the central part of the continent. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Althaea officinalis is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often challenging environments. It thrives in a wide variety of landscapes, ranging from moist irrigation channels, meadows, and shores to more arid settings such as semi-deserts and saline places. This species is frequently found colonizing old fields, plains, and shrubberies, demonstrating a robust ability to establish itself in both disturbed and stable ecosystems. Furthermore, its vertical distribution is notable, with a mean elevational range extending up to 1800 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy a broad altitudinal spectrum across its natural range.

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Habitat :

irrigation channals, meadows, old fields, plains, saline places, semidesert, shores, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Althaea officinalis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the earth during unfavorable conditions. This species exhibits a deciduous habit, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Althaea officinalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent species, neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, and maintains a terrestrial lifestyle. The plant exhibits a variable height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.858 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.858 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Althaea officinalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. Its leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, resulting in a mean leaf length of 5.5 cm. The leaf width varies between 1.5 cm and 6 cm, contributing to a mean leaf size of approximately 40.66625 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 235.45 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass distribution and resource allocation strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

40.66625 cm²

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

235.45 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Althaea officinalis is characterized by a sexual reproductive cycle, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through September. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects, with bees acting as a primary pollinator. While self-fertilization is present, ensuring reproductive success, the plant relies on these biological agents for pollen transfer. Following fertilization, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. This fruit is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its contents. The dispersal syndrome is classified as autochorous, where the plant employs mechanisms to disperse its own seeds. These seeds exhibit varying dimensions, with a minimum seed mass of 0.0016 g, a mean mass of 0.0056355 g, and a maximum mass of 0.0199 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0199 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0056355 g

Seed mass min:

0.0016 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Althaea officinalis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, root.

Flower

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Root

1. Complementary medicine research

Chemicals

Althaea officinalis has 112 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, quercetin, 4-amino butyric acid, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, ALUMINUM.

Flavonoids

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
2. International journal of nanomedicine
3. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

4-amino butyric acid

1. Dr. Duke

4-hydroxy benzoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

ARABINOGALACTAN

1. Dr. Duke

Aesculetin

1. Dr. Duke

Albiflorin

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Antioxidant Activity

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Althaea officinalis has 629 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antitussive, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
3. International journal of biological macromolecules

Antitussive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Complementary medicine research
3. International journal of biological macromolecules

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Experimental parasitology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Expectorant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Complementary medicine research

Immunostimulant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Reviews on recent clinical trials

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Althaea officinalis has 17 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cough, sore throat, Parkinson's disease, anti-inflammatory agents, antioxidant.

Cough

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Complementary medicine research
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Sore throat

1. Complementary medicine research
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Parkinson's disease

1. The journal of physiological sciences : JPS

Anti-inflammatory agents

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Antioxidant

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Breast cancer

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Cold

1. Reviews on recent clinical trials

Colorectal cancer

1. Biomolecules

Gangrene

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Genital systems

1. Iranian journal of medical sciences

Preparations

Althaea officinalis has 14 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Decoction or infusion, Flower Extract, Herbmix, MeOH extracts, Methanolic extract.

Decoction or infusion

1. Revista de gastroenterologia del Peru : organo oficial de la Sociedad de Gastroenterologia del Peru

Flower extract

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Herbmix

1. PloS one

Meoh extracts

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Methanolic extract

1. BioMed research international

Aqueous marshmallow root extracts

1. Complementary medicine research

Chitosan gel

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Extract

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Extracts

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Extracts from the aerial parts of althaea officinalis (apao)

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)