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
Stachys officinalis Stachys officinalis Stachys officinalis is commonly known as common hedgenettle, betony, purple betony, wood betony, bishopwort, or bishop's wort. The French common name is "betoine", and "Betonie" in German. It is a perennial grassland herb growing to 1 to 2 feet tall. Pliny (25, 8, 46, § 84) calls the plant both "betonica" and "vettonica", claiming that the Vettones used it as a herbal medicine. The word "stachys" comes from the Greek, meaning "an ear of grain," and refers to the fact that the inflorescence is often a spike. "Stachys officinalis" is a perennial grassland herb growing to 30 to