Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Because of its dissipated appearance and enormous profusion on waysides and in vacant lots during northern California winters, mallow (Malva spp.) is one of the last uncultivated herbs I would have considered eating. My mistake. Several species of weedy Malva have been used interchangeably for food, tea, and medicine for thousands of years–among them little mallow (Malva parviflora L. ♯3 MALPA), common mallow (M. neglecta Wallr. ♯ MALNE), round-leaf mallow (M. rotundifolia L.), and high mallow (M. sylvestris L. ♯ MALSI).