Althaea officinalis the English common name "mallow". Most of the mallows have been used as food, and are mentioned by early classic writers with this connection. Mallow was an edible vegetable among the Romans; a dish of marsh mallow was one of their delicacies. Prospero Alpini stated in 1592 that a plant of the mallow kind was eaten by the Egyptians. Many of the poorer inhabitants of Syria subsisted for weeks on herbs, of which marshmallow is one of the most common. When boiled first and fried with onions and butter, the roots are said to form a palatable dish, and in
Saponaria officinalis a lather when in contact with water. The epithet "officinalis" indicates its medicinal functions. It is a common host plant for some adult moth species, including the white-lined sphinx. "Saponaria officinalis" native range extends throughout Europe, and in Asia to western Siberia. It grows in cool places at low or moderate elevations under hedgerows and along the shoulders of roadways. It can be found in much of North America. The plants possesses leafy, unbranched stems (often tinged with red). It grows in patches, attaining a height of . The broad, lanceolate, sessile leaves are opposite and between 4 and 12