Botanical identity
A mucilaginous root often prepared by cool or warm water extraction.
KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderMalvales
FamilyMalvaceae
GenusAlthaea
Scientific name with authorshipAlthaea officinalis L.
Curated parts indexedRoot and leaf
Indexed scientific synonyms
Althaea balearica J.J.Rodr.Althaea kragujevacensis PancicAlthaea kragujevacensis Pancic ex Diklic & Stevan.Althaea multiflora Rchb.Althaea multiflora Rchb. ex RegelAlthaea officinalis subsp. indica Baker fil.Althaea officinalis var. laciniata RothAlthaea officinalis var. obtusifolia Vayr.Althaea officinalis var. obtusiuscula H.C.HallAlthaea officinalis var. obtusiuscula H.C.Hall ex Lej.Althaea officinalis var. pallida Regel & HerderAlthaea officinalis var. rotundifolia GrayAlthaea officinalis var. thirkeana Alef.Althaea officinalis var. vulgaris Alef.Althaea pulchra KlotzschAlthaea sublobata StokesAlthaea villosa Blatt.Althaea villosoides Blatt.Althaea vulgaris BubaniMalva althaea E.H.L.KrauseMalva althaea F.W.SchultzMalva maritima Salisb.Malva officinalis (L.) K.F.Schimp. & Spenn.
Documented use categories
Medicine
Human food
Environmental use
Material
These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.
How to interpret this record
Traditional and practical context
Traditional and practical context is preparation-specific. A documented use category is not proof of clinical effectiveness.
Evidence boundary
Evidence must be assessed by exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.
Safety boundary
Confirm botanical identity, plant part, route, dose, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age before use.
Dataset record and provenance
DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier558872-1
Use codesEU HF MA ME
Crop wild relativeNo
Contributing checklist sources
Kew Economic Botany CollectionEuropean Red List of Medicinal PlantsUSDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2
Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →
!Educational index, not a treatment recommendation
The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.