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
Styrax officinalis spring to summer (May–June). "Styrax officinalis" subsp. "redidivus", "Styrax officinalis" subsp. "fulvescens" (both native to California) and "Styrax officinalis" subsp. "jaliscana" (native to Mexico), were included here, but recent molecular analysis has suggested that they may be diverged to the point of being separate species. This species is native to southern Europe and the Middle East. It prefers dry rocky slopes, woods and thickets at an elevation up to above sea level. This plant is the "official" source of styrax, an herbal medicine known from ancient times. Some believe its oleoresin to have been the stacte used together with frankincense,