This is the fifth in a series of plant identification posts. My goal is to help teach you some simple plant family characteristics that you can then take with you into the field.
In case you missed them, here are the other posts in this series: Rose Family (Rosaceae Family); the Parsley Family (Apiaceae Family) and the Pea Family (Fabiaceae Family); and the Mint Family (Lamiaceae Family)
I’ve got two new flower families to add to our list this week, the Malvaceae and the Brassicaceae Families.
The Mallows
Malvaceae Family
With their distinctive and often striking disc-like flowers, Mallows are both easily recognizable and much loved. Think hibiscus, hollyhocks and Rose of Sharon.
In addition to being garden favorites, Mallows are also known for their mucilaginous qualities and have been utilized as a thickening agent for everything from stews (okra gumbo) to confections.
Question: how old were you when you realized that Marshmallows came from the Marsh Mallow plant? I’m embarrassed to say I was well into adulthood before it dawned on me! Of course, modern day marshmallows are made with gelatin and corn syrup, but if you ever want to try your hand at making wild foraged marshmallows, I heard that there is a great recipe in John Kallas’ book Edible Wild Plants.
It’s interesting to note that prior to the modern era, the most common use for mallows was for medicine. It’s viscous or slimy quality was used as a lubricant for all sorts of ailments from sore throats to ‘loosening the belly’—and even for kidney stones.
“Tis no rare thing for people to be affected with gravel. Take an ounce of syrup of Marsh-Mallows; mix with two or three spoonfuls of white wine. Warm it on a fire; and add and ounce of oyl of Sweet Almonds; and slice into it a quarter ounce of Nutmeg. It has bee a very successful remedy.” Cotton Mather
Mallows also have industrial and agricultural applications as well. They tend to have very tough, fibrous stems and have been used by humans for cordage (jute) and, more recently, in the paper industry for paper-making purposes.
Fun Fact: I was also interested to learn that the Kapok, Baobab, Cola (which was the OG source for the caffeine in soda) and, drumroll please…Cacao are all part of the Mallow Family!
Mallow Family Characteristics
So what are the Mallow Family characteristics? There are three:
Funneled-shaped flowers with 5 petals
A distinctive column of stamens clustered around a central pistil
Alternate, palmately lobed (think palm or hand), serrated leaves
The Mustards
Brassicaceae Family