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{{SPlantbox
 
{{SPlantbox
|genus=Althaea  
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|familia=Malvaceae
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|genus=Althaea
 
|species=officinalis
 
|species=officinalis
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|taxo_author=L.
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|common_name=Marshmallow, Marsh Mallow, Common Marshmallow
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|habit=herbaceous
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|Max ht box=1.2
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|Max ht metric=m
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|height_ref=Wikipedia
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|lifespan=perennial
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|life_ref=Plants for a Future
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|exposure=sun, part-sun
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|sun_ref=Plants for a Future
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|water=moist, moderate, dry
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|water_ref=Plants for a Future
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|features=deciduous, flowers, edible
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|flower_season=late summer, early fall
 
|Temp Metric=°F
 
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
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|min_zone=3
|image=Upload.png
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|usda_ref=Plants for a future
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|image=Althaea officinalis.jpeg
 
|image_width=240
 
|image_width=240
 
}}
 
}}
Describe the plant here...
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'''''Althaea officinalis''''' ('''Marshmallow''', '''Marsh Mallow''', or '''Common Marshmallow''') is a species native to [[Africa]], which is used as a [[medicinal plant]] and [[ornamental plant]].
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The stems, which die down in the autumn, are erect, 3 to {{convert|4|ft|m}} high, simple, or putting out only a few lateral branches. The leaves, shortly [[Petiole (botany)|petioled]], are roundish, ovate-[[cordate]], 2 to {{convert|3|in|mm}} long, and about 1 1/4 inch broad, entire or three to five lobed, irregularly toothed at the margin, and thick. They are soft and velvety on both sides, due to a dense covering of stellate hairs. The flowers are shaped like those of the common Mallow, but are smaller and of a pale colour, and are either axillary, or in panicles, more often the latter.
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The [[stamens]] are united into a tube, the anthers, kidney-shaped and one-celled. The flowers are in bloom during August and September, and are followed, as in other species of this order, by the flat, round fruit which are popularly called 'cheeses.'
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The common Mallow is frequently called by country people 'Marsh Mallow,' but the true Marsh Mallow is distinguished from all the other Mallows growing in [[Great Britain]], by the numerous divisions of the outer [[Sepals|calyx]] (six to nine cleft), by the hoary down which thickly clothes the stems and foliage, and by the numerous panicles of blush-coloured flowers, paler than the Common Mallow. The roots are perennial, thick, long and tapering, very tough and pliant, whitish yellow outside, white and fibrous within.
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The whole plant, particularly the root, abounds with a mild [[mucilage]], which is emollient to a much greater degree than the common Mallow. The generic name, Althaea, is derived from the Greek ''altho'' (to cure), from its healing properties.
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Most of the Mallows have been used as food, and are mentioned by early classic writers with this connection.
    
{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
Althaea officinalis, Linn. Marsh Mallow. Fig. 180. Erect, 3—4 ft., downy: Lvs. ovate, often heart-shaped or 3- lobed, frequently undivided, tomentose: fls. 1 in. across, blush or rose, clustered in the axils of the Lvs. Perennial, in marshes. E. Eu., and occurring in this country as an escape.—Root used for mucilage and for other purposes; also medicinal. The root of commerce has its brown outer covering removed. Rarely cult., but occasionally escaped in marshes near the coast.
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Althaea officinalis, Linn. Marsh Mallow. Erect, 3—4 ft., downy: Lvs. ovate, often heart-shaped or 3- lobed, frequently undivided, tomentose: fls. 1 in. across, blush or rose, clustered in the axils of the Lvs. Perennial, in marshes. E. Eu., and occurring in this country as an escape.—Root used for mucilage and for other purposes; also medicinal. The root of commerce has its brown outer covering removed. Rarely cult., but occasionally escaped in marshes near the coast.
 
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}}
    
==Cultivation==
 
==Cultivation==
 
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Succeeds in almost any soil and situation[1, 4, 200], though it prefers a rich moist soil in a sunny position[4, 200]. It also tolerates fairly dry soil conditions[1]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[187]. Marsh mallow is often cultivated in the herb garden, as a culinary and medicinal herb as well as for ornament[61]. Its roots were at one time the source of the sweet 'marsh mallow', but this sweet is now made without using the plant[4].
    
===Propagation===
 
===Propagation===
 
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Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in late summer, the germination is often erratic[238]. Stratification can improve germination rates and time. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer[K]. Division in spring or autumn. Fairly easy, it is best to pot up the divisions in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away well and then plant them out into their permanent positions. Root cuttings in December.
    
===Pests and diseases===
 
===Pests and diseases===
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<gallery perrow=5>
 
<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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Image:Althea officinalis flor.jpg|Marshmallow (''Althaea officinalis'')
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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File:Althaea officinalis 001.JPG
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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File:Koeh-008.jpg
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Image:Upload.png| photo
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
    
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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*[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Althaea+officinalis Plants for a Future] - creative commons text incorporated
 
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
 
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
 
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
 
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->