Round-leaved or common poppy or mallow – Malva neglecta Wall., M. rotundifolia L., M. vulgaris Fr.
Description of papaya mallow:
Malva neglecta Wall., M. rotundifolia L., M. vulgaris Fr. Old or other known names: papsafrutum, common papsafrutum, papsafrutum mallow, sweet-grass, small mallow, common mallow, round-leaved mallow, round-leaved mallow, slippery elm, creeping mallow, round-leaved mallow, round-leaved mallow, round-leaved mallow, round-leaved mallow Mallows – Malvaceae Papsaceous or round-leaved mallow is an annual plant but can also be a perennial. The stems of annual plants are only white to the thickness of a luteolus, drooping and poorly branched, whereas the stems of perennials form a permanent woody capital which may grow to the thickness of a pinky finger and which shoots green stems in all directions. The papaya does not grow tall, only 10-40 cm. The leaves are long-tongued, the stem can be up to 20 cm long. The leaf blade is rounded, kidney-shaped at the shoulder, with 5 to 7 margins in the palm, serrated edges, green in colour, and pointedly lacy. Stem and petioles hairy. Flowers are long-tongued and clustered in axils. The five-petalled calyx on the flower is surrounded by a three-petalled outer calyx. The corolla is pale pink or white with red veins, only two to three times longer than the calyx. The corolla has 5 petals, the petals are narrow, inverted ovate, the edges deeply notched. Stamens numerous, growing in a tube. Pollen globular, seeds 5-8 mm in diameter. The fruit of the flower is the pappus, which is still surrounded by the remaining calyx. A distinction is made between the common papaya(Malva vulgaris fr.), the petals of which are twice as large as the calyx and deeply lobed, the stems 30-50 cm high; then the round-leaved papaya (Malva rotundifolia l. and m. borealis wallm.), the petals of which are scarcely longer than the calyx and only slightly lobed; the stems 8-10 cm high. It flowers from June to October (autumn). The ancient Greeks and Romans grew it in salads, and in Europe it was eaten as early as the Middle Ages, the roots being ground and used as a substitute for flour in times of scarcity. Its disc-shaped fruit resembles a round cheese, hence its name. The roots of the annual plant are thin and simple, and the perennial also has a rootstock, from which several stems develop, spreading out on the ground and only rising towards the end. It is a self-fertile plant, with a chromosome number n=21. The origin of the word mallow is from the Greek verb malasso(to soften), already called moloché by Theophrastos and Dioscorides.
Occurrence:
The papaya mallow is widespread throughout our country, found on cultivated soils, in fallow places, along fences, roads and gardens. In Europe, Russia and Asia, except in the northern parts of North Africa, it grows in bare places, along roadsides and hedges, in temperate areas, and is now wild throughout the world. It prefers semi-shady, sunny places (leaves turn perpendicular to the sunlight/phototropism), is not very particular about soil, dislikes high saline soils containing heavy metals, and soil nitrate levels can increase in the plant. Common in weed communities.
Use:
The papaya also contains a lot of mucilage and therefore its leaves are used in medicine for similar purposes as wild mallow. The leaves of both are sold as folia malvae. The leaves form part of the preparation species emollientes, the flowers of species althaeae. It is used as a household remedy for tracheitis, bronchitis, pleurisy, anti-inflammatory, haemostatic, diuretic (urinary system), emollient, laxative (digestive problems), expectorant. Relieves coughing spasms, expectorant and gargle (against hoarseness, throat, tonsillitis, gingivitis). Externally used as a poultice for bruises, stings, swellings, haemorrhoids and ulcers, tumours, gouty pains, eczema, swelling of hands and feet. It softens swollen tissue and makes it easier to heal. It is also good for tear production (discharge from the eye). Its leaves, seeds and shoots can be eaten fresh, raw in salads or cooked. Its fruits taste like cheese, and its decoction has been shown to be effective against stomach ulcers and enteritis (as a coating). Its mucilage causes the water to thicken when cooked. A decoction can be made by placing a handful of dried plant in 1 litre of cold water and boiling for 2-3 minutes after boiling. It has been used in bath water for boils, boils, frostbite, and to relieve gout pains. Due to its mucilage, its tanning agents have anti-irritant properties and astringent properties. The flowers are used by the food industry as food colouring and are present in tea blends as a colouring agent. The leaves can be used as a salad (raw or cooked – as a stew) or, in the old days, the roots were ground into flour, but the seeds can also be eaten raw or cooked. Caution! Nitrate can accumulate in the leaves! South Korean researchers have shown the anti-inflammatory effects of extraction of raspberry seeds in laboratory conditions. And Japanese researchers have experimented with leaf and stem extracts of related species and have demonstrated uterine tissue stimulating activity.
Active ingredient:
Plant mucilage (10%), the flower also contains tannins and dyes, anthocyanin glycoside (mainly in the flowers), phosphorus, calcium, nitrogen, polyphenol, tannin, iron, leaves contain vitamin C, vitamins A1, B2, B3, galacturonorhamnans, arabinogalactans, small amounts of tannins.
Collection and cultivation:
The papaya leaves are harvested in July or August, i.e. when the flowers open. The leaves, cleaned of stem parts, should be spread out on a thin layer of tarpaulin and dried quickly to preserve their green colour. Do not expose to direct sunlight, otherwise they will turn black. 5 kg of fresh leaves will yield 1 kg of dry leaves. It reproduces from seed, which should be sown in early spring and germinates in 2 weeks. It is susceptible to disease, especially rust-causing fungi, and caterpillars of some species of moths, and diseased leaves should not be used medicinally. The leaves of the plant should be collected with the stem no more than 3 cm long and pinched (‘pinched’ papaya leaves). It can also be collected with a comb, but the leaves collected in this way (‘combed’ papaya leaves) are of poorer quality because the leaves are torn off with a longer stem. The whole above ground plant can also be collected and is marketed as ‘mown’ papaya. When drying, direct sunlight is not recommended as the leaves can easily blacken. (It loses its mucilage when dried, so it is best used fresh) Pregnant or breastfeeding women should be used with caution, and medical permission is essential! A common saying: “Not all pap cheese!” Pliny: “He who drinks the juice of paprika every day has protected himself from disease for that day.” Source: Dr. Ferenc Darvas and Dr. Gyula Magyary-Kossa,Domestic herbs, their production, marketing, effects and medicinal uses Béla Páter, Wild herbs, their production, use, distribution, and marketing Rápóti Jenő-Romváry Vilmos, Medicinal plants, ISBN:963 241 190 0 Dr. Michael A. Weiner, Herbal Bible, ISBN: 963 7495 29 Dr.Kolos Ede-Kolosné Pethes Edit, Our domestic medicinal plants Ingrid and Peter Schönfelder, Herb Guide, ISBN:963 684 124 1 Dr. János Zelenyák, The effects and use of medicinal plants Dr. István Isépy, Herbs, ISBN:963 11 6369 5
