Common Mallow Foraging in the Okanagan

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This video is a brief description of Common Mallow. The scientific name is Malva neglecta. I include some information to help with identifying it, its distribution, and some information about its edible and medicinal properties.

Common Mallow can be found in yards, gardens, roadsides, railroads and other disturbed areas. It is found throughout the Okanagan, BC, the Pacific Northwest, across southern Canada and across most of North America. Common Mallow is an introduced species that is native to Europe.

The leaves, flowers, stems/shoots, fruits, and roots are all edible. The leaves and shoots can be eaten raw or cooked and are said to be highly nutritious. The leaves can be eaten raw in salads, and the immature seeds, called cheeses because they resemble a cheese-wheel, are also edible and have a nutty flavour. The leaves and stems can be added to soups and stews and can be used to thicken soups.

The leaves and flowers are most commonly used for medicine. Mallow has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used as a poultice for many different ailments. Some medicinal applications include soothing bug bites, burns, stings, and other skin inflammation. It can also be used for some internal maladies such as upset stomach, constipation, sore throats, and urinary tract infections.

Please consume wild plants at your own risk! Consult multiple reliable sources before consuming any wild plants! This video is for information and entertainment only!

References:

MacKinnon, Andy (2019)
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Publishing.

Kloos, Scott (2017)
Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press, Inc.