Althaea (plant) often added to salads or are boiled and fried. The roots and stem also secrete mucilage, which is used to soften the skin, and is used in cosmetic treatments. The Roman poet Horace refers to his own diet in his Odes, which he describes as very simple: "As for me, olives, endives, and smooth mallows provide sustenance." The root has been used since Egyptian antiquity in a honey-sweetened confection useful in the treatment of sore throat. The later French version of the recipe, called "pâte de guimauve" (or "guimauve" for short), included an eggwhite meringue and was often flavored with
Calendula officinalis Calendula officinalis Calendula officinalis, the pot marigold, ruddles, common marigold or Scotch marigold, is a plant in the genus "Calendula" of the family Asteraceae. It is probably native to southern Europe, though its long history of cultivation makes its precise origin unknown, and it may possibly be of garden origin. It is also widely naturalised further north in Europe (as far as southern England) and elsewhere in warm temperate regions of the world. The Latin specific epithet "officinalis" refers to the plant’s medical and herbal uses. "Calendula officinalis" is a short-lived aromatic herbaceous perennial, growing to tall, with sparsely branched