Page 85 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Mallow, Malva spp. (MALVACEAE)
any time. They are one of the few raw wild greens
that do not get too bitter in hot weather. Raw or
The genus Malva contains about 25 to 30 mallows,
cooked leaves are a nice addition to greens and can
which are often edible and used as vegetables.
even replace lettuce in salads, as they have a mild,
EDIBLE PARTS: leaves, stems, flowers, and immature
pleasant flavor. Immature seeds, although tiny, have
seeds
a pleasant nutty flavor and can be added to soups, or
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Leaves have anti-inflammatory, creamed like pea soup, or eaten raw as a snack. Seeds
antioxidant, expectorant, and laxative properties. The can be fiddly to harvest and are best before they are
plant is used for coughs and IBS. fully mature. Flowers can be picked and used as a
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Leaves can be harvested garnish or in salads. Remove stamens and anthers.

CHEESEWEED MALLOW, M. parviflora, or Little Mal-
low can be annual or perennial and is often considered
a weed, growing 2 ft. (0.6m) high. It can be found in dis-
turbed sites and lawns. It develops a strong taproot, and
the stems are tough, fibrous, and almost woody.
FLOWER: Almost continually in bloom, ¼ inch (6mm)
white to pink flower clusters form at the bases of leaf
LEAF: Round or palm-shaped 3 to 4-inch (8-10cm)
stalks. Parviflora means “small-flowered”. The fruit or
leaves with 5 to 7 shallow lobes, alternate up the long
seed capsules look like little, ¼ inch (0.6cm), cheese
wheels. Each wedge-shaped section contains a seed. The creeping stems and vary in hairiness.
seeds are rounded, brown, kidney shaped, and very tiny.

HIGH MALLOW, M. sylvestris, is a showy, vigorous
plant that grows 3-4 ft. (1-1.2m) tall. It has a stout cen-
tral stem that is sparingly branched, green and hairy.
FLOWER: Clusters of flowers occur from the leaf axils
along the upper half of the plant. Flowers have 5 red-
dish-purple petals with dark purple veins, are 2 inches
(5cm) across on 2-inch stems. They bloom for about 2
wide, with 5 to 7 shallow lobes, which are often point-
months from midsummer into the fall. Flowers are fol-
ed. They are palmately veined with toothed margins.
lowed by ring-like nutlets that are ¼ inch (0.6cm) wide.
Leaves are dark green and have 6-inch (15cm) stems.
LEAF: Leaves are 5 inches (12.5cm) long and 5 inches

MUSK MALLOW, M. moschata, grows to 24 inches
(60cm) tall and is noted for its musk-scented, sau-
cer-shaped flowers and hairy stems and foliage. It is often
found in grassy areas and pastures, usually in rich soils.
FLOWER: Flowers are 1½ to 2 inches (3-5cm) in diame-
ter with 5, blue to purple, shades of pink, or white petals.
They appear singly or in clusters at the leaf axils. Seeds
Basal leaves on the lower stem have shallow lobes.
are disc-shaped capsules, ⅛ to ¼ inch (0.3-0.6cm), en-
Leaves higher on the stems are deeply divided with
closing 10 to 16 seeds.
narrow lobes. They are bright spring green and hairy.
LEAF: Leaves are ¾ to 3 ¼ inches (2-8cm) long and wide.
MALLOW SALAD: Late in the season when other greens and pepper. Enjoy.
are often bitter, this green can be used to make a fine sal- WARNING: High levels of nitrates can concentrate in
ad. Collect and wash 2 cups of leaves, grate 1 carrot and mallow leaves if grown in high-nitrogen areas. Har-
1 small beet, dice 1 small onion, and toss. For a simple vest from unfertilized, unpolluted sites.
dressing, use 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 2 tbsp. olive oil and salt
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