Althaea (plant) Althaea (plant) Althaea is a genus of 6–12 species of perennial herbs native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia. It includes "Althaea officinalis", also known as the marshmallow plant, whence the fluffy confection got its name. They are found on the banks of rivers and in salt marshes, preferring moist, sandy soils. The stems grow to 1–2 m tall, and flower in mid summer. The leaves are palmately lobed with 3–7 lobes. "Althaea" species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including "Bucculatrix quadrigemina". The genus formerly included a number of additional species now
Parietaria officinalis Parietaria officinalis Parietaria officinalis, the eastern pellitory-of-the-wall, also known as upright pellitory and lichwort, is a plant of the nettle family. Its leaves, however, are non-stinging. The plant grows on rubbish and on walls, hence the name. The pollen is a cause of allergy. It was once used in the making of certain metheglins. The leaves and flowers of "P. officianlis" contains the flavonoids kaempferol-3-bioside, the 3-glucosides and 3-rutinosides of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, 3-sophorosides of quercetin and kaempferol and 3-neohesperosides of kaempferol and isorhamnetin. They also contains caffeoylmalic and two pyrrole acids. It is in a different family from