The New Student's Reference Work/Marshmallow

Marsh'mallow, a class of plants with showy flowers, natives of Europe and Asia. The common marshmallow grows in salt marshes on our eastern coast. The whole plant is wholesome, abounding in fiber, mucilage, starch and sugary matter, though the mucilage is chiefly in the roots. The famous confection, marshmallow paste, is made from the roots. The plant is a close relative of the hollyhock, bushy and leafy, and grows to a height of from two to four feet. The downy leaves are broad, alternate, ovate or heart-shaped. The flowers grow in clusters and are of a pale rose-color, blooming in August and September.