Herbal Database Search Results
Back
to: Pathways Main Search
Page For Metaphysical uses
visit The Witchs Haven
Malva parviflora
| Common name: |
Cheeseweed |
Family: |
Malvaceae |
| Author: |
L. |
Botanical references: |
50 |
| Synonyms: |
|
| Known Hazards: |
Although we have seen no reports of toxicity for this species, when grown on nitrogen rich soils (and particularly when these are cultivated inorganically), the leaves of some species tend to concentrate high levels of nitrates in their leaves[76]. The leaves are perfectly wholesome at all other times. |
| Range: |
S.W. Europe. A casual in Britain. |
| Habitat: |
Fields and waste land[50]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
3 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 2 |
| Other Possible Synonyms: | From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below. |
| M. pareviflora[E]
|
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Cheeseweed Mallow [P], Least Mallow [L], Little Mallow [L], Small-whorl Mallow [B], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
flora = flowered;
parviflora = small flowered;
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA
Plants Database |
|
Order: Malvales. Mallow family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
Egypt; Kumaon; Lesotho; Sicily; South Africa; Sudan; Us
|
Physical Characteristics
Annual growing to 0.5m. It is not frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
We rate it 3/5 for edibility and
2/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist soil.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Cultivated Beds.Edible Uses
Leaves; Seed.
Leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb[61, 114, 183]. A mild pleasant
flavour, they make a very acceptable alternative to lettuce in salads[K].
Immature seeds - raw or cooked[114, 183]. They are used to make a creamed
vegetable soup that resembles pea soup[183]. A few leaves are also added for
colouring[183]. The seeds have a pleasant nutty flavour, though they are too
small for most people to want to collect in quantity[K].
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Antidandruff; Demulcent; Emollient; Pectoral; Skin.
The whole plant is emollient and pectoral[114, 240]. It can be used as
a poultice on swellings, running sores and boils[257].
The seeds are demulcent[240]. They are used in the treatment of coughs and
ulcers in the bladder[240].
A decoction of the roots or leaves has been used as a hair rinse to remove
dandruff and to soften the hair[257].
Other Uses
Dye; Hair; Oil.
The seed contains up to 18% of a fatty oil[114]. No more details are
given, though the oil is likely to be edible[K].
Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed
heads[168].
A decoction of the roots or leaves has been used as a hair rinse to soften
the hair[257].
Cultivation details
A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[1],
though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a
sunny position[200].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233].
Plants are prone to infestation by rust fungus[200].
Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in situ. Germination should take place within 2
weeks.
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
Web References
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [C] Taxon data.
from the CalFlora database.
- Images
from the CalPhoto database.
- [PHARM] Phytochemical Data
(common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for Malva pareviflora (a possible synonym).
References for the family Malvaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[76] Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984 ISBN 0112425291
Concentrates mainly on the effects of poisonous plants to livestock.
[114] Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.
It is surprising how many of these plants can be grown in Britain. A very readable book on the useful plants of Iraq.
[168] Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
Readers Comments
Main Search Page
Bibliography
Plant information taken from the
Plants For A Future -
Species Database.
Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963 This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Malva+parviflora
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Malva+parviflora
|
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons License.
(You can copy, distribute, display this works but: Attribution is required, its for Non-Commercial purposes, and it's Share Alike (GNUish/copyleft) i.e. has an identical license.)
We also ask that you let us know (michael@thewitchshaven.com) if
you link to, redistribute, make a derived work or do anything groovy with this information.
|
| 
